Posts in:Ball Bearings

How Does A Self-Aligning Bearing Operate?

Posted November 12, 2015 by admin

Better Self-Aligning Ball Bearings for Your IndustryOften called the “ideal” ball bearing, we’re cracking the mystery of how self-aligning bearings operate and sharing their many uses.

Have you ever wondered what separates self-aligning ball bearings from roller bearings or other custom solutions? And how exactly do these bearings self-align? These small wonders are often recommended and designed for placement in applications where misalignment would otherwise exist. Misalignments may come from assembly errors, deflections, machine errors, or other defects in production.

The design of the self-aligning bearing is what allows it to be so versatile in play. Self-aligning ball bearings contain two rows of balls and an outer ring that is spherical in shape.

It is this unique outer raceway (sometimes doubled in self-aligning bearings) of this ball bearing that allows it to self-align as well as operate smoothly without any stress to the bearing. Because of the raceway involved, these units are able to run cooler at higher speeds than other bearings. There are many variations of this bearing available, making it a definite must-have for your industry.

At VNC Bearing we have an expansive line of bearings, from ball bearings to roller bearings, we’ve got it all. Or contact us today for custom solutions to meet your specific needs. Call now at 614.876.1000

Roller Bearings VS Ball Bearings – The Major Differences

Posted October 12, 2015 by admin

Have you ever wondered what the difference was between roller bearings and ball bearings? At first glance they may not seem all that different. However, these seemingly similar style bearings have very different uses. We’re showing you how bearings work, and what the differences are between these engineering gems.

How Bearings Work
In general, bearings are all composed of the same basic mechanics: a ball set within an internal or external ring. This setup allows for force to be placed on the ball, referred to as loading. There are two different types of loading with bearings; thrust and radial.  If your bearing is working with a radial load, this means the bearing will rotate, or roll when put under tension. Alternatively, a thrust load will be subject to force dependant on the angle. Bearings have been around for hundreds of years and have many different uses, some of which include aiding in rolling (a tire), pulling, applications in hard drives, skateboards, and more.

 Ball bearings are commonly used in small wheels and hard drives, as well as other everyday applications, but are prone to deformation when under too much pressure.Ball Bearings
In small amounts of weight, this extremely common bearing is able to handle both thrust and radial load, making it a popular bearing with engineers. When ball bearings are in motion their main job is to transfer the load from the outer raceway to the inner raceway. This allows for a smooth spin. Ball bearings are commonly used in small wheels and hard drives, as well as other everyday applications, but are prone to deformation when under too much pressure.

These bearings are primarily based around a cylinder, meaning this bearing is able to distribute a load over a large area, carrying heavy weights.Roller Bearings
Unlike ball bearings, roller bearings are designed with heavy loads in mind. These bearings are primarily based around a cylinder, meaning this bearing is able to distribute a load over a large area, carrying heavy weights. Also unlike ball bearings, roller bearings are not made to handle thrust loads.

For more information on roller bearings, ball bearings, and custom solutions contact VNC. We have an expansive selection of bearings available. Call us with any questions, or to get a free estimate today at (800) 862-3211.