Thin Section Bearing Advantages

Thin section bearings are used in critical applications and environments where space is tight, weight must be minimised and absolute precision is guaranteed. They are typically found in radar platforms, robotic arms, medical scanners and gimbal mounts.

The thin section bearings supplied by Rodriguez (Kaydon) provide significant space and weight savings when compared to standard bearing sizes. One Type X thin section bearing can replace two traditional bearings.

Lightweight

Compared to standard bearings of the same bore size, thin section bearings are very lightweight. In applications such as aircraft gun turrets, medical equipment and robotics this can make a significant difference to the space and weight requirements of a system.

A duplex pair of angular contact RBC Thin Section Bearings was used in this application to support an aircraft gun turret, carrying radial, axial and moment loads. The bearings performed at less than 25% of the torque required for the steel bearings originally installed.

In order for the full performance of a thin section bearing to be achieved, it is important that the correct assembly procedure is followed. This includes careful consideration of the appropriate shaft and housing fits, the recommended fittings and the correct bearing type and alignment. For further assistance in this area, Silverthin and Carter will shortly be launching an on-line bearing selector facility which allows design engineers to input a comprehensive set of critical factors to quickly determine the right thin section solution for their application.

High Precision

With a constant cross section, thin-section bearings can deliver space and weight savings compared to conventional standardized ball bearings. This translates to greater precision, enabling smaller and more compact equipment to be developed without sacrificing performance levels.

Often, manufacturers such as Silverthin can offer a range of specialist finishes and materials to further enhance the functionality of these bearings. These include 52100 vacuum-gassed chrome steel, 440C martensitic stainless steel and 17-4PH tool steel.

These can improve lubrication, reduce friction, protect against abrasion and corrosion, and increase the Rockwell hardness of a bearing. This can significantly increase the radial load capacity of a thin-section bearing whilst reducing the risk of damage from dynamic loads such as vibrations and torque variations. These specialized finishes and materials can also allow engineers to achieve special radial play for specific applications. This can be required for shafts and housings with different thermal expansion rates or to account for other factors.

Low Friction

Many thin section bearings use a multi-row configuration that evenly distributes radial loads across many balls. This results in low noise and vibration.

They are designed for primarily radial loads but will also support some axial loads in one direction. However, the axial load capacity is reduced due to shallower raceway depths.

When the right type of thin section bearing is selected, it can help reduce overall system costs. This is because the space and weight savings achieved are often significant, compared to standard bearing sizes.

Designers have a choice of three definitive types of thin section bearing, dependent upon application requirements. These include radial, angular or four-point contact. Additionally, designers can choose from alternative ball and cage designs together with various lubrication options. The fit of thin section bearings must be correct to ensure they deliver the intended performance and life. For this reason, they should be measured using special gages which allow for three to five measurements around the circumference of the diameter.

Durability

Using thin section bearings in high-precision applications such as robotic arms, medical scanners, gimbal mounts and missile tracking systems can save space and weight. While these applications require high speed and precision, they also need to withstand demanding operating conditions and environments.

Kaydon Reali-Slim thin section bearings have a smaller cross section than standard bearings with the same diameter, which reduces the load on the bearing and allows for higher speeds without increasing friction or decreasing accuracy. This allows designers to meet capacity requirements in critical, space-restricted applications, delivering significant cost savings over traditional bearings.

To help design engineers choose the right thin section bearings for their application, Silverthin and Carter are launching an easy-to-use web-based selection tool. It will allow them to input a whole host of important criteria such as bearing internal and external dimensions, shaft and housing fits, tolerances and expansion and contraction rates. The results will provide them with a shortlist of suitable bearing designs and sizes.