Selection of Bearing Bearing Structural Form
1. Introduction
Bearing is an important component of mechanical transmission system. It’s main function is to support the mechanical rotating body and reduce the friction coefficient during its operation. At present, there are many kinds of bearing structure form on the market, such as cartridge, deep groove, double row etc. Choosing the right structure is as essential as choosing the right model in order to reduce cost and add efficiency. The type of bearing structure is determined by the load, rotation speed, accuracy and space requirements of the equipment.
2. Load Requirements
The following factors should be considered in the selection of bearing structure: the type and direction of load including radial, axial, and moment load;the magnitude of load, the size of displacement and vibration frequency, the type of lubrication and seal plan, and the working environment.For radial and axial loads, the most common bearing structures are deep groove bearings and angular contact bearings. For moment load, the most common structure is four-point contact ball bearings. For low speed, light load, miniature deep groove bearings and thrust bearings can be selected to minimize the size of the bearing.
3. Rotational speed
The speed of the bearing is one of the most important factors in the selection of bearing structure. Generally, high speed with small load can be adopted in adapting to the bearing structure which is suitable for general self-lubrication and have good rigidity, such as deep groove ball bearings. For high speed and heavy load application, tapered roller bearings should be selected as they have better thermal stability and can withstand greater load.
4. Precision Level
The precision level of bearing has different grades and the higher precision level bearing structure is suitable for high precision operation. Generally, the structure of the bearing should be selected according to the mechanical accuracy also. For example, deep groove ball bearing with high precision should be selected for the requirement of higher accuracy.
5. Space Requirements
The size and structure size of the bearing need to be taken into consideration when choosing the bearing structure. For tight space, small size deep groove bearing should be selected, and for large size, double row angular contact bearing should be selected。 If the space can not meet the needs, split type bearing and flanged bearing should be considered.
6. Cost Considerations
The price of bearing structure is also an important factor in selecting the bearing structure. It should be considered to select the appropriate bearing structure according to the working conditions and its requirements on the cost. Generally, the price of conical roller bearing, cylindrical roller bearing and four-point contact ball bearings are relatively high.
In summary, when selecting the bearing structure, it’s important to consider the load requirements, rotational speed, precision level, space requirements and cost considerations. The suitable structure of the bearing should be selected based on these considerations.
