Information About KAYDON Thin Section Bearings

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Specialize in ball bearings, roller bearings, thrust bearings, thin section bearings etc.

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Information About KAYDON Thin Section Bearings

KAYDON Thin Section Bearing Company was established in 1941 and has become one of the most famous manufacturers of large ball bearings and roller bearings in North America. It is the world leader in thin section bearing manufacturers. KAYDON Bearings develops various standard and customized bearing solutions for thin-section bearings required by industrial machinery. Kaydon’s typical thin section bearing is the Reali-Slim® series, which is ideal for applications where space optimization and weight reduction are required. When applications require greater moment stiffness and higher dynamic load capabilities, the first bearing choice for industrial designers is Kaydon bearings. The cross-sectional area of standard ball bearings varies with bore size. In general, as the size of the bearing bore increases, the cross-sectional area increases proportionally. However, the cross-sectional area of thin-section bearings remains the same regardless of changes in bore size. Therefore, low-profile bearings appear thinner. In order for you to know about thin-section bearings, this blog will elaborate on various aspects such as type, load, material, installation, application, etc., to help you choose suitable thin-section bearings and provide constructive suggestions.

Table of Contents

What are KAYDON thin section bearings?

There are many definitions of thin-section bearings in the industry. The most common one is: when the inner diameter of the bearing is than 4 times larger than the radial cross-section, it is considered a thin-section bearing. The most typical characteristics are that they appear thinner than standard ball bearings and that their cross-section does not become larger as the bore diameter increases. KAYDON thin-section bearings are designed for applications in tight and hard-to-reach confined spaces, helping to meet the demanding requirements of high-tech applications. The construction of thin-section bearings helps save space, reduce weight, improve operating accuracy and design flexibility. Thin-section bearings have ultra-precision raceways that provide a smooth surface finish, which helps reduce friction. The bearings also feature high-quality ball and cage assemblies to ensure smooth rolling performance. Thin-section bearings are used in aerospace, medical equipment, robotics, radar, satellites, semiconductors, food processing and textile machinery.

Types of KAYDON Thin Section Bearings

KAYDON thin section bearings are available in many types. Each type of thin-section bearing has various advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to understand which type is best for your application. To help you, we will introduce the different styles of thin-section bearings and the types of applications they are suitable for.

A type angular contact thin section bearings

Type A angular contact ball bearings are suitable for applications with unidirectional axial loads, as well as radial or combined radial thrust applications. Type A bearings should never be used alone to support moment loads or reverse axial loads and are often used as a duplex bearing pair. Duplex and super duplex bearings are available in a variety of configurations, such as Type B, Type F, Type T, Type M and Type W. If you are unsure which combination to choose, please contact Aubearing Engineering for working standard and custom configuration options for Type A angular contact thin section bearings.

Type A angular contact thin section bearing load
Bearing Type	Radial	Axial	Moment	Reversing Axial	Combined Radial Thrust
Type A Angular	Good	Excellent	Use in Pairs Excellent	Use in Pairs Excellent	Good
Type B Back-to-Back Pair	Very Good	Very Good	Very Good	Very Good	Good
Type F Face-to-Face Pair	Very Good	Very Good	Very Good	Very Good	Good
Type T Tandem Pair	Very Good	Excellent	Very Good	Very Good	Good
Type M Single Outer Ring & Inner Ring Pair	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Type W Outer Ring Pair & Single Inner Ring	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent

Type B – Duplex Pair Back to Back

Type B matching set consists of two A-type angular contact bearings arranged back to back, with the load line offset from the axis of the bearing. Because A-type bearings by themselves can only support axial (thrust) loads in one direction, designers often use them in pairs. When two A-type bearings are paired, they can bear axial loads in both directions.

Type F - Duplex Pair Face to Face

Type F is a face-to-face pairing set, in which two A-type angular contact bearings are arranged face-to-face, with the load lines converging toward the bearing axis. As mentioned earlier, since A-type bearings can only withstand axial (thrust) loads in one direction by themselves, they are usually used in pairs. When they are paired, they can withstand axial loads in both directions.

Type T – Duplex pair in series

Type T is a matched bearing set using two A-type angular contact bearings installed in series, which can only withstand very high axial loads in one direction. This is different from back-to-back and face-to-face matched bearings, which cannot withstand axial loads in both directions.

Type M – Superduplex back-to-back

Single outer ring, paired inner ring.

Type W – Superduplex Face to Face

Single inner ring, paired outer ring.

C type radial contact thin section bearings

Type C radial contact thin section bearings are designed with deep ball grooves and are primarily used for radial load applications, but they can also withstand moderate axial loads, reverse axial loads and moment loads. Sealed or shielded C-contact ball bearings primarily support loads perpendicular to the axis of rotation and provide a range of protection against contamination for smooth rotation. Seals are usually made of nitrile rubber or other materials. Sealed C-type radial contact thin section bearings are suitable for applications in environments with contaminants such as dust, dirt and moisture. Shielded C-type radial contact thin section bearings are suitable for applications in environments where debris and particles are present rather than fine contaminants. Protective shields are usually made of metal.

Type C radial contact thin section bearing load
RADIAL	AXIAL	MOMENT	REVERSING AXIAL	COMBINED RADIAL THRUST
Excellent	Good	Good (light to moderate loads)	Good (light to moderate loads)	Good

Type X-four point contact bearing

X or 4 point contact ball bearings are best suited for applications where moment loads are required. X-type bearings adopt a Gothic arched raceway design, forming 4 contact points between the balls and raceways. This design is ideally suited to withstand moment loads and reverse axial loads. Type X bearings are not recommended for purely radial loads. Type X – 4-point contact sealed or shielded bearings prevent contamination, debris, and particles from entering the bearing to achieve smooth rotation. Seals are usually made of rubber or other materials. Protective shields are usually made of metal.

Type X-four point contact thin section bearing load
RADIAL	AXIAL	MOMENT	REVERSING AXIAL	COMBINED RADIAL THRUST
Poor	Good,	Excellent	Excellent	Poor

Materials for manufacturing thin-section bearings

Thin-section bearings are a special type of ball bearings, consisting of inner rings, outer rings, rolling elements and cages. Among them, the inner ring and outer ring are the main parts of the thin-section bearing, and the rolling elements roll between the inner and outer rings. The function of the cage is to keep the position of the rolling elements stable and at the same time separate the rolling elements to prevent them from colliding with each other. The inner and outer rings of thin-section bearings are usually made of high-strength materials, such as stainless steel (440 stainless steel), high carbon steel (CREN high nitrogen steel), chromium steel (chromium steel 52100), etc. Rolling elements are usually made of spherical or cylindrical high-hardness materials, such as chromium steel balls, ceramic balls, cemented carbide balls, etc. Cages are usually made of lightweight materials, such as aluminum alloy, nylon, PTFE polymer, etc.

Installation requirements

Precision thin-section ball bearings should be installed in a clean environment, and tools and mating parts should also be kept clean and free of burrs, dirt, debris, etc. It is good practice to keep bearings in their original factory packaging until installation, and it is best not to open the packaging in advance. The most important thing is that the interference fit must be done very carefully to avoid damaging the bearing, such as using a heat fit to minimize installation forces. The crimping tool should make 360-degree contact with the pressed bearing outer ring, and do not attempt to transfer force to the ring through the ball. Finally, when installing duplex thin-section bearings, be sure to observe the matching marks to ensure correct positioning. Regular monitoring and inspections are recommended to detect any potential problems earlier.

Factors for selecting thin section bearings:

Load Capacity: The load capacity of thin-section bearings depends on factors such as type, material and design.
Stiffness and Clearance: Appropriate stiffness and clearance to meet specific application requirements.
Materials: Learn about stainless steel or chromium steel and their suitability for different environments.
Lubrication: Emphasis on proper lubrication is critical to maintaining thin-section bearing life and performance.

Conclusion

This article details the types, materials, installation and other information of thin-section bearings. Thin section bearings are used in applications where space is limited or weight is an important design consideration. Aubearing has always been committed to quality and innovation and continues to expand our capabilities. With our experience and expertise, we help customers solve various problems in bearing applications. Aubearing has been certified by ISO9001, ISO13485, and ISO16949, and can tailor special bearing designs according to your specific application. We manufacture nearly every type of ball bearing and roller bearing design.

Although you may know your application well, finding the right thin-section bearing solution can be difficult. We strive to be flexible and responsive. You deserve a bearing supplier with no minimum order quantities, short prototype lead times, and world-class design capabilities. The philosophy that customers always come first is deeply embedded in every department of our organization. Our customers receive personalized service, including fast and accurate responses to all questions and requests.