Long Life Bearings
The quality of a bearing determines the life of the bearing. Long life bearings refer to those bearings which have a longer life than the full bearing standards. As everybody knows, bearings are used in a lot of applications to reduce friction and general wear and tear. This makes the bearing life of a critical factor in the operation of the system.
Long life bearings have been created through a variety of engineering feats and design considerations. The most important factor when selecting a suitable bearing is to understand the customer’s requirements and the benefits of different bearing designs. For example, bearing type selection is especially important when choosing long-life bearings. Depending on the application and customer requirements, deep-groove ball bearings with extreme large contact angle designs and high-precision cylindrical roller bearing designs are the commonly used long-life bearing solutions.
The benefits of these two bearing types are multifold. For example, deep-groove ball bearings provide increased radial and axial capacity, which leads to higher load rating, increased fatigue life and improved reliability. On the other hand, high precision cylindrical roller bearings have a longer roll neck area and improved thermal performance due to their design. This makes them more resistant to thermal cycling and increases the overall bearing life.
In order to maximize the life of a particular bearing, it is a must to calculate the bearing’s life expectancy by taking into account the load, speed, temperature, lubrication and other operational parameters. Once the life expectancy is known, various measures such as using the correct preload, using the recommended lubricant, using the correct needle roller thrust bearings, using the correct bearing temperature and providing the suitable housing can be taken to increase the bearing life.
Life extension of long-life bearings can further be achieved by paying attention to the installation procedure. This includes correctly choosing the right components, correctly identifying the size and type of bearing and making sure that it is correctly mounted and fitted. Many different types of fitment kits are available to ensure the prolonged life of the bearings.
In conclusion, the selection and installation of long-life bearings is of utmost importance. The bearing life expectancy should be calculated and certain measures must be taken to ensure the maximum lifespan. By carefully selecting suitable materials, bearing type and fitment procedure, an overall improved system performance and extended bearing life can be achieved.
