Mechanical BEARINGS & LUBRICANTS

Top Product

Plastic bearings

• corrosion resistant
• chemical resistant

Available in both English and metric sizes, the “H” series ball bearings are made of polyacetal (POM) plastic. Other available materials for the outer and inner rings are polypropylene, polyethyleneterephthalat and polyethylene, with the balls made from either glass, ceramic or NIRO 1.4301/AISI-304 or -316. Due to their extreme resistance to most common chemicals, no lubrication is required, allowing low maintenance. The lightweight series provides good electrical insulation properties, ease of movement and quiet operation. Typical applications are in food and dairy processing, film and photography, galvanizing equipment, medical and pharmaceutical instrumentation, and HVAC and semiconductor operations. AST Bearings, Montville, NJ. 

Washer bearing. The threaded Stems hex nut’s preassembled, free spinning collar washer passes through a clearance hole in any fragile bearing material to transfer clamp load directly to the more rigid joint member. ITW Shakeproof Assembly Components, Elgin, IL

Roller catalog. Having durometer measurements ranging from 20 to 95, DuraSoft rollers provide cushioning flex for securely handling fragile items. Comprehensive specs are included with part numbers and ordering information. Fairlane Products Inc, Troy, MI. 

Pillow blocks. Using a free-rolling design and larger rolling diameter than conventional ball bushing pillow blocks, these pre-lubricated roller bearing pillow blocks are self-aligning for higher speed operation and acceleration in linear motion applications. Significant shaft deflection and misalignment are easily tolerated. No shaft seals or periodic lubrication are needed. Single load rating is up to 10,500 lbs. LEE Controls Inc, Piscataway, NJ. 

Self-lubricated bearing. Designed for harsh environments where lead is prone to chemical attack, lead-free, self-lubricated FB2 bearings accept PVs up to 140,000 psi/fpm without any oil or grease. They are available in 5-165mm sizes. Peer Inc, Waukegan, IL. 

Rollers. Designed for sliding doors, noiseless Power-Core rollers and trolley systems resist moisture and flat development and do not wear out the rail. The dimensionally-stable tire material carries high loads at temperatures between -40 and 140°F. Intech Corp, Closter, NJ. 

Heat transfer fluid. The company has reformulated its OR heat transfer fluid, significantly enhancing the product’s resistance to oxidation-induced sludge formation and coke deposits. It has been independently analyzed to be twice as resistant to this sludge formation than competing thermal oils. It is non-toxic with no foul odor. OR fluid is highly thermally stable at film temperatures up to 600°F. Paratherm Corp, Conshohocken, PA. 

Coating for linear guides. Designed to protect the company’s linear guides and ballscrews in wet processing environments, this rust-proofing coats elements with stable cold Cr-fluoride plating without hydrogen brittleness. NSK Precision America, Bloomingdale, IL. 

Self-lubricating bearings. iglide M250 self-lubricating bearings are suited for low- to medium-load applications. Impact resistance and vibration dampening, wear-resistance and the ability to absorb dirt ingression are the main features. igus inc, E Providence, RI. 

Large bearing cages. Large Dimension Ball Bearing Cages provide additional strength while their increased rigidity and lack of deflection allow higher tolerances and increased strokes per minute. Various interior dimensions include 3.5- to 5.625-in. and 89 to 140mm and cages can be made in any length. Double stakes—4 stakes in all—reduce ball loss and die equipment malfunction. Precision Ball Specialties, Williamstown, NJ. 

Thin-section bearings. Metric sizes have been added to the Reali-Slim bearing line. The compact bearings combine a large bore size with small cross section. Radial-, angular-, and 4-point-contact configurations are available. Kaydon Corp, Muskegon, MI. 

Heavy-duty bearings. Designed for any linear application where high load capacities are required, the Hevi-Rail bearings are available in a fixed or adjustable eccentric style. Single bearing capacity ranges from 5000 to 33,500 lbs. Pacific Bearing Co, Rockford, IL. 

Bearing seals. Ocean seals keep a bearing clean for longer life. Two stationary flexible plastic lips press lightly against stainless steel rings to form a positive rotary seal. Inside pressure between the two lips quickly equalizes outside pressure, sealing both lips against the rotary rings, keeping contaminates out of the bearing. Similarly, a vacuum in the spindle housing causes the inner lip to seal tightly, preventing coolant from entering the bearing. ZRB Technologies LLC, Harwinton, CT. 

Application Xtra

PEEK Polymer Bushings

• self-lubricating
• reduces downtime

When BP discovered that the PTFE-bronze bushings on two of its reactor pumps were wearing out after just six months, they turned to a plastics specialist to solve the problem. Working with the pump manufacturers, the specialist recommended replacing the bushings with ones made with Victrex PEEK polymer, Xytrex, a non-brittle carbon-fiber reinforced composite. The result has been a major reduction in downtime at BP’s hydrocarbon processing plant in Grangemouth, England. 

Bushings made with PEEK polymer are non-galling and non-seizing in contact with metal, and can operate at a continuous temperature of up to 350°F. “PEEK polymer is a naturally low-friction and wear-resistant material,” explains Kevin Jennings, general manager for Victrex USA. “Its self-lubricating properties, combined with high temperature capability, make it an ideal choice for replacing metal wear components in pumps. And because it expands less than stainless steel at high temperatures, sealing rings can be machined to closer clearances, increasing pump efficiency through reduced recirculation.”

Because PEEK polymer is a hard material—harder than PTFE-bronze used in the original BP bushings—it can extend the wear life of components. “For example,” says Jennings, “a shaft running on a bushing causes high pressure which can actually wear away the bushing. If you use a hard material [...] that can resist that pressure, the bushing won’t wear out as fast. This is especially important in the hydrocarbon industry where reducing downtime is critical.”

According to BP mechanical engineer David Dickson, “Once we were sure that there was no risk of the composite contaminating our sensitive polyethylene production process, we installed the PEEK polymer bushing on one of the pumps. It has been running now for over 12 months.”

After six months, BP engineers opened up the pump to check the bushing. “There was not even a scratch,” says Dickson. “Once we were satisfied that this bushing could solve our problem, we decided to install a similar bushing on the second pump. That one has been running now for over seven months.”

For more information:
Victrex USA Inc, Greenville, SC. Free info—Circle 659. 
www.RSLeads.com/109df-659