Remember the three-pronged fidget spinners, which spin with a flick of the wrist and spin endlessly between your fingers, that became the best low-tech therapy device of 2017?
How did it spin so fast without stopping? What was the physics behind this?
In one (maybe two) words, ball bearings.
When two objects slide against each other, friction prevents them from moving smoothly. But when the object is rolled against another surface, the rolling friction turns out to be much weaker than the sliding friction because the point of contact between the two surfaces is very insignificant.
Ball bearings create extremely low friction. Think clock movements, jet engine shafts and skateboard wheels; They are all equipped with ball bearings of different grades and coefficients of friction.
Fidget spinners also have these ball bearings right in the center of the toy, between the “inner track” and “outer track” of the toy. Therefore, by replacing sliding friction with rolling friction, the balls of small bearings are used to reduce the friction of the moving parts of a machine or device.
In other words, bearings are used to provide enhanced linear or rotary motion around a fixed axis.
However, a high-quality ball bearing is a matter of precision. These ball bearings are finely ground and machined to high tolerances for a brilliant finish. Therefore, finding reliable ball bearing suppliers in Singapore is crucial for long-lasting and frictionless machine movement.
How can ball bearings reduce friction?
Rings and ball bearings are precision machined for high tolerances and roundness. These ball bearings and raceways are highly polished for smooth rotation. This reduces the frictional torque, or you could say the rotational resistance.
Although non-lubricated bearings have the lowest rotational resistance or friction, high-quality steel ball bearings need to be lubricated until rotational speeds become very slow.
Using a low torque oil, these ball bearings are lubricated based on run time and machinery speed and may need to be constantly lubricated with grease or lubricants. In fact, bearings without adequate lubrication can cause premature failure.
An alternative is the shielded bearing, the ball bearing pre-lubricated with low torque (friction) grease to provide a constant oil film between the races and balls while radiating heat at the contact points.
Without ball bearings, there would be excessive production of thermal and acoustic energy. Take the example of a vehicle wheel mounted on a stationary axle without any ball bearing, the inner wheel would rub against the axle causing friction and thus stopping the movement. Furthermore, constant metal-to-metal contact will lead to wear and tear and the generation of thermal energy (and also noise).
Fortunately, we have enough low-friction technologies to make movements smooth and frictionless over time.
Where are ball bearings used?
Found in a wide variety of applications, ball bearings are convenient for industries and human products. This type of bearing is typically used in applications that have high speed and low load. Ball bearings have been included in the manufacture of everything from everyday items like blenders to skateboards and hard drives for maximum performance and functionality.
For industrial applications, ball bearings are mainly used in the following industries:
Automotive sector
The use of bearings can be found in critical automotive parts such as the engine, drive shaft, steering column, wheels, and transmission. These bearings help improve vehicle performance, reduce friction, decrease carbon dioxide emissions and improve fuel efficiency, and allow vehicles to readjust themselves when traveling over rough terrain, dampening shock and vibrations resulting from sudden braking. Different types of ball bearings are used in motor vehicles such as deep groove ball bearings, tapered roller bearings and thrust ball bearings.
Electricity
Most methods of generating electricity today use electromagnetic induction, which requires moving a conductor relative to a magnetic field to generate electricity. Ball bearings are often used to enable rotational movements that produce electricity in turbines. These bearings can also be found in other equipment such as pumps, compressors and electric motors in coal, wind and hydroelectric plants. As for wind energy applications, ball bearings are used in subcomponents such as rotor shafts, gearboxes and generators.
Food and drinks
Ball bearings are often involved in various stages of manufacturing processes in the food and beverage industry. For example, ball bearings are used to move various products from one part of a factory to another, often at high speeds and with high degrees of precision. Bearings are also key to improving overall cost efficiency and play a crucial role in process automation. Food and beverage conveyors, slicers and forming/filling machines require ball bearings to perform their functions.
Winding:
In short, ball bearings are effective at reducing friction between the moving parts of a machine using simple physics: replace sliding friction with rolling friction. They enhance linear or rotary movement around a fixed axis.
High quality ball bearings and roller bearings can be found in Singapore. Subjected to a high degree of pressure and tolerance with precision polishing, ball bearings are ideal for use in machines. Whether it is ceramic ball bearings, steel ball bearings or plastic ball bearings, it is crucial to use the correct type and quality of ball bearings in different types of machines.
