At AUBEARING, we apply engineering expertise and specialized knowledge to address the most demanding bearing requirements worldwide. Whether you need one or thousands of bearings, our engineers are always prepared to leverage their exceptional design capabilities to find tailored and ideal bearing solutions for your applications. Kaydon's thin-section and slewing ring bearings are directly interchangeable, meeting the highest quality standards and shortening lead times to ensure timely project completion. The equivalent solutions of Kaydon's thin-section bearings, Reali-Slim® and Ultra-Slim®, offer options that reduce weight, save space, lower friction, enhance design flexibility, and provide outstanding operational accuracy. These bearings provide a variety of choices for customers, from materials, cages, section designs, internal bearing configurations, lubrication to corrosion resistance, and contact angles.
The design of thin-section bearings features a significantly smaller cross-section compared to traditional bearings. This design provides higher radial load capacity and greater precision in applications with limited space. Thin-section bearings consist of four main components: inner and outer rings, balls or rollers, and cages. The inner and outer rings are made from steel or other high-strength materials capable of withstanding high radial and axial loads. Balls or rollers, also made from high-strength chrome steel or stainless steel, rotate freely within the bearing.
The cage secures the balls or rollers in place and prevents them from contacting each other. Typically made from steel or other wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant materials, the cage design also influences the bearing's performance by affecting load distribution and bearing speed.
Angular Contact Thin-Section Bearings (Type A): Suitable for applications with high axial loads, Type A angular contact thin-section ball bearings can also be used for radial or combined radial-thrust applications. They should not be used alone for moment loads or reverse axial loads. Two Type A thin-section bearings are often used as paired bearings.
Four-Point Contact Thin-Section Bearings (Type X): Type X thin-section bearings or four-point contact thin-section ball bearings are ideal for handling moment loads. Type X ultra-thin section bearings feature a Gothic arch groove design, creating four points of contact between balls and raceways. This design is excellent for handling moment loads and reverse axial loads and can be used under other light load conditions, but it is not recommended to replace C-type or A-type thin-section bearings for purely radial loads.
Radial Contact Thin-Section Bearings (Type C): Also known as radial contact thin-section bearings, Type C thin-section bearings feature a deep groove design capable of handling high loads. While primarily used for radial load applications, they can also withstand moderate axial loads, reverse axial loads, and moment loads.
Advantages of thin-section bearings compared to other types include reduced weight, increased precision, and faster speeds.
Reduced Weight: Thin-section bearings are lighter than other types of bearings due to their smaller dimensions and thinner cross-sections, making them crucial for weight-constrained applications such as aerospace or robotics.
Smaller Dimensions: Thin-section bearings can be designed in very compact sizes, fitting into tight spaces while still providing high precision.
High Precision: Due to their design, thin-section bearings offer precise positioning and rotational capabilities, making them ideal for applications requiring accuracy and precision, such as surgical instruments, robotics, and high-precision machinery.
Reduced Friction: The design of thin-section bearings includes lower friction coefficients, reducing energy loss and minimizing wear. This extends their operational life and reduces maintenance requirements.
Durability: Thin-section bearings are made from high-quality materials such as chrome steel or stainless steel, making them resistant to damage and capable of withstanding high loads and extreme environments.
Materials used for thin-section bearings include steel, stainless steel, and ceramics, depending on the application and required performance characteristics.
Chrome Steel: 52100 chrome steel is the most common material for thin-section bearings due to its strength and durability. However, steel bearings can be susceptible to corrosion and wear over time, especially in harsh environments.
Stainless Steel: Stainless steel bearings are another popular choice for thin-section bearings. Stainless steel offers corrosion resistance and wear resistance, making it suitable for bearings exposed to moisture or chemicals.
Ceramics: Ceramics are a newer material for thin-section bearings, offering several advantages over traditional steel bearings. Ceramic bearings are lighter, stronger, more wear-resistant, corrosion-resistant, and electrically insulating compared to steel bearings. They also perform better at high speeds and temperatures, making them ideal for aerospace and other high-performance applications.
AUB manufactures thin-section bearings using AISI 440C stainless steel to provide corrosion resistance. As an alternative to stainless steel rings, the entire surface of the ring can be coated with Thin Dense Chrome (TDC). This coating complies with AMS 2438 standards and forms molecular bonds that do not peel, detach, or separate from the substrate. The hardness of TDC-coated rings ranges from HRC 70 to 78, capable of withstanding temperatures far beyond the substrate's range. Special thin-section bearings are made from aluminum, 300 series stainless steel, 17-4 stainless steel, and other metals.
Balls available include 440C stainless steel, 300 series stainless steel, silicon nitride, and M-50 steel.
Thin-section bearings are available in four precision grades, with tolerances for bore diameter, outer diameter, and radial clearance as shown in the thin-section bearing size chart.Size ranges for thin-section bearings include imperial and metric measurements.
Open Thin-Section Bearings: Oil-lubricated with low starting torque and flexible rotation.
Sealed Thin-Section Bearings: Consist of nitrile rubber/BUNA-N rubber bonded to metal washers. Some bearing sizes come with high-temperature PTFE seals (up to 250°C) or Viton seals (up to 230°C). The inner lip of the seal frictionally contacts the bearing inner ring, effectively sealing out dust and small particles while preventing lubricant leakage. Contact seals generate significantly higher friction torque than open bearings and can lower the maximum speed of the bearing. At temperatures below -40°C, nitrile rubber and Viton harden, reducing sealing effectiveness, so PTFE seals or metal shields should be considered for extremely low temperatures. Thin-section bearings with deep groove ball bearing structures are available as open bearings, dust shields (2Z), or seals (2RS).
Cage materials for thin-section bearing cages include brass, nylon, phenolic resin, and stainless steel.
AUB bearings offer a variety of lubricants tailored for specific applications, including greases designed for high speed, low torque, water resistance, high temperatures, oscillating motion, and food machinery. Other lubricants, such as dry film lubricants, are suitable for vacuum and space applications. For more detailed information, refer to the ball bearing lubrication website.
Ordinary chrome steel thin-section bearings can operate continuously at 120°C or intermittently at temperatures up to 150°C. Beyond these temperatures, the load capacity of chrome steel decreases. We can also customize high-temperature-resistant thin-section bearings through special heat treatment processes and by adding high-temperature greases.
Internal clearance is the amount of movement between the outer ring, inner ring, and rolling elements of a thin-section bearing. Radial internal clearance refers to the relative up and down movement of the outer ring compared to the fixed inner ring, while axial internal clearance refers to the left and right movement. Internal clearance in bearings is a critical factor affecting factors such as noise, vibration, heat, and fatigue life. AUBEARING provides clearance options: C2\CN\C3\C4\C5.
Thin-section bearings find application in various fields where space is limited and precision requirements are high. Common applications include robotics, aerospace, medical equipment, and industrial machinery.
In robotics, thin-section bearings are used in joints and moving components. These bearings are designed to handle high radial and axial loads while maintaining precise motion and positioning.
In aerospace, thin-section bearings are used in various applications including flight control systems, landing gear, and engines. These bearings are designed to withstand extreme temperatures and pressures while maintaining high levels of precision and reliability.
In medical equipment, thin-section bearings are used in imaging devices, surgical tools, and other critical applications. These bearings are lightweight, precise, and durable, making them ideal for sensitive medical equipment.
In industrial machinery, thin-section bearings are used in various applications including conveyors, pumps, and motors. These bearings are designed to handle high loads and speeds while maintaining high levels of precision and reliability.
