Thursday, 12 February 2009

Special Lubricated Bearings

In order to maximise a bearings life within today’s market of increased speeds and higher temperatures lubrication is defiantly the key but understanding what lubrication does for a bearing is important in order for you to decide what form of lubrication is best.

The main purpose of lubrication for bearings is to prevent contact between the rolling elements, raceways and cage. It is ultimately used to prevent the bearing from suffering from corrosion and wear. It has many uses when it comes to prolonging the life of the bearing and helping it to work at its best. Also it has additional features and functions such as the sealing and cooling of the bearing.

There are many ways in which a bearing may be lubricated in order for it to do its job more effectively. In some cases the bearing may be lubricated with grease or oil. These represent two of the most commonly used traditional methods of lubrication. However in many other cases you may use a special lubricated bearing. These special lubricated bearings are generally made of bronze powder by uniaxial pressing. The microscopic cavities following pressing (porosities) are filled with oil, which comes to the surface when the bearing is used.

These special lubricated bearings are generally used in low pressure, high frequency and small amplitude applications as well as within methods of operating and constructing. The choice however of which lubricated bearing you decide to use depends primarily on the temperature range, operating speeds and loading conditions of the bearings that are concerned.

The lubrication of bearings has an important effect on the function of the bearing. This is why it is important you choose the right form of lubricated bearing as it has an effect on the life span of the bearing. So what exactly are the advantages of lubricated bearings?

• They reduce the friction and wear by lubricating every part of the bearing.
• It takes away the heat that is generated inside the bearing as a result of friction or for many other reasons.
• It forms an oil film within the rolling contact surface in order to elongate the bearing life.
• It prevents the bearing from rusting as well as suffering dust contamination.

It has been stated that all lubricants must be changed from time to time due to the fact that their properties deteriorate as a result of aging as well as the contamination. If you are currently in this position then have you thought about investing in special lubricated bearings? These are generally self lubricated bearing, which are made from bronze and have built in lubrication that kicks in when it is needed. These forms of lubricated bearings have a tendency to last longer than other forms of bearings and could give you the optimum performance that you have been looking for.

These special lubricated bearings will not only solve the problems with oiling operations but they will also extend the service life of machines. Even under severe conditions, special lubricated bearings have superior durability, quality, stability and performance within various applications. These bearings offer advantages such as compact design, longer service life, manpower and environmental saving as well as non environmental pollution. So next time you are after lubricated bearing look no further than special lubricated bearings.

Hybrid Bearings

The use of hybrid bearings has opened up a whole new field of different applications for rolling bearings. The reason for this is down to the fact that they have numerous advantages over more conventional bearings, which makes them an economical and high quality solution within a number of fields of use. Some of these advantages are as follows:

• Prevents Electrical arching
• Have lower maintenance costs
• Provides an extended life service
• Ensures an extended grease life

So what makes hybrid bearings better than other traditional bearings? Well one answer to this question lies within the fact that conventional bearings such as steel bearings limit the design potential as technology requirements roll forwards at a fast and impressive rate. Also the hybrid bearings that are on the market today use Silicon Nitride, which is what makes up ceramic bearings. These hybrid bearings not only meet but exceed today’s high technical requirements by offering a long list of characteristics that are superior to that of conventional bearings.

The numerous advantages that exist within the world of hybrid bearings make them an economical and high quality solution within a number of fields. The bearings consist of rings manufactured from high-grade rolling bearing steel and rolling elements made of Silicon Nitride. Hybrid rolling bearings are generally characterised by the following properties:

• High speeds
• They are suitable for media and starved lubrication
• Being suitable for extreme temperatures
• High stiffness
• Having a high resistance to corrosion
• Being low in weight
• Demonstrating low friction
• Providing high reliability
• Having low wear
• Being safe to run dry
• Giving you low operating costs
• Electrical insulation

Hybrid bearings are lighter, harder and more durable than bearings such as steel ones. They can run at higher speeds and lower operating temperatures as well as offer inherent insulating properties and exhibit superior wear-resistance for optimised performance and longer service life.

By using hybrid bearing you will basically be prolonging the life of your electric motors, machine tools and fluid machinery etc. You will be helping any piece of machinery or technology where the operating conditions may include electrical-current passage, high speed and contamination or poor lubrication.

Hybrid bearings, like ceramic ones, are able to last up to ten times longer than bearings such as steel ones or more conventional options. They have substantially higher wear resistance as well as the ability to work well in difficult running conditions and electrical insulation properties makes it the best option for electric motors, professional hand tools and fluid machinery.

The longer grease life of hybrid bearings is what leads to its longer service life but as well as this the designers of this particular bearing can alter the bearing to suit a variety of uses. They can increase the speed or reduce the friction as well as the temperature; this is especially true with sealed hybrid bearings.

Hybrid bearings could play a vital role within your machinery or pieces of technology. So next time you are looking to invest in some new bearings, why not give hybrid bearings a go.

Ceramic Bearings

Ceramic ball bearings are the latest must have when it comes to some of the best bearings on the market. They are what many people across various industries have been waiting for. So what makes ceramic bearings better than there competitor the steel bearings?

Ceramic bearings are lighter, smoother, stiffer, harder and corrosion resistant as well as being electrically resistant. It is characteristics such as these that allow for a wide range of performance enhancements in bearings. They are constructed with a ferrous inner and outer ring/race with ceramic balls taking the place of steel balls. They offer many advantages over their competitor steel balls such as higher speed and acceleration capability, increased stiffness and lower friction plus much more!

As ceramic bearings are made from silicon nitride, which means that they have a greater hardness than steel balls, but what does this mean to their performance? Well for one if ensures that the machinery you are using the balls in have a longer life. Also it means that the ceramic balls weight up to 40% less than steel ones and they can operate up to 20% or 40% faster than steel ball bearings.

The advantages associated with ceramic bearings just keep coming; another one being that with ceramic bearings you are giving your machinery or automobile a greater life span as the components won’t rust. They are non-conductive and are available in standard configurations such as angular bearings, thrust bearings, pillow block bearings, needle bearings and roller bearings. Some of the most typical uses for ceramic bearings are within high temperature applications, friction, high speed, semiconductor applications and dental hand turbines as well as many high speed electric motors requiring voltage isolation, which use ceramic material bearings.

The advantages and fundamental characteristics of ceramic bearings ensure a wide range of performance enhancements within the bearings. For example ceramic bearings are particularly well suited for use within extremely harsh environments where high temperatures or corrosive and erosive substances are present. This is down to the fact that conditions like this are generally a problem for standard bearings.

When ceramic bearings are used instead of standard bearings such as steel bearings they are able to last up to ten times longer. This is extremely important as it means it reduces machinery down-time and ultimately maintenance costs as ceramic bearings have a higher wear resistance and an ability to work well in different running conditions.

One other reason as to why ceramic bearings work better than other types is thanks to the fact that they require less lubrication in comparison to other types. Also in certain types of ceramic bearings no lubrication is required at all. This is all according to the engineers of the bearings, who also state that the noise created by the use of these bearings is far less than bearings such as steel ones or other traditional forms.

I think it is safe to say that ceramic bearings are defiantly the future and if you have any pieces of machinery or technology that require the use of bearings I recommend that you consider the use of ceramic bearings if you are looking for a generally better performance in a way that is going to save you money.

Get your Ceramic Bearings today from Howcroft Industrial Supplies; leaders in all aspects of Bearings.

Kevlar Garden Belts

If you have a lot of land or you work within the agricultural industry you will know how important it is to have the best equipment to properly maintain your grounds. This equipment of course includes gardening tools such as mowers, tillers and snowblowers. So for equipment such as these to do the best job appropriately you need to ensure that they are in the best condition and what better way to do this than placing Kevlar garden belts in them.

Kevlar garden belts have become extremely popular over the last few years. The main reason for this is thanks to their extreme durability and strength as well as their value added pricing. So what exactly are Kevlar garden belts? Well they are constructed using organic polyaramide fibers that are manufactured using complex chemical processes.

The material known as Kevlar was developed in the 1960’s in response to a demand for a ‘super fiber.’ It is considered to be revolutionary in its design innovation, which makes it one of the toughest commercial materials in existence today. Basically if you need something to be light, strong or safe then you need the help of Kevlar. It combines high strength with light weight in order to help dramatically improve the performance of a variety of consumer and industrial products.

Kevlar garden belts are double wrapped in special fabric in order to ensure high resistance to wear and reduced slippage. They have high tensile strength and non-extensibility to shock loads. Also as well as being used for garden belts, the material Kevlar has been used for a variety of other reasons such as bicycle tires and bulletproof vests; it is used in a lot of protective clothing, again, due to its strength and durability.

Going back to gardening, Kevlar garden belts are used in many machinery applications. This is down to the fact that Kevlar garden belts have a high resistance to oil, heat and cracking. They also have a high resistance to repeated reverse flexing and a reduced slippage while clutching. On top of this they also have a high resistance to wear and tear and a high tensile strength.

Kevlar garden belts have been constructed specifically for use on applications where high levels of power transmission are required, where there are restrictions on the drive width and the installation and take up allowances are minimal. They are also used where drive is critical.

As Kevlar garden belts are used for a variety of different equipment and they come in a variety of different colors to ensure that no matter what piece of equipment you are using your Kevlar garden belt for, it will match it. Some examples of the colors that you are able to get Kevlar garden belts in are brown, blue, grey, white and black.

Using these belts within your lawn mower and other equipment will ensure that these pieces of machinery last longer. So remember, you will get the best performance and the best value for your money when you use them in all of your gardening equipment.

For all of your Kevlar Garden Belts needs as well as all of your other Belt needs, look visit Howcroft Industrial Supplies today.

Fire Resistance Belts

Fire resistance belts, or as they are known in short FRAs were developed to comply with safety standards. These belts are formulated in such a way that even if the belt catches fire the flame should get stipulated time before it goes out, which minimises the risk of damage and injury.

The use of fire resistance belts mainly consist of conveyor belts. There are many different forms of these rubber conveyor belts, which of course includes the fire resistance belts but also includes general purpose conveyor belts, heat resistant conveyor belts and oil resistant as well as abrasion resistant conveyor belts.

Conveyor belts that involve fire resistance are however becoming one of the most popular choices due to convenience as well as to comply with guidelines. They are primarily used for internal transportation within buildings as well as within tunnels and mines. The reason that for this is safety is of principal importance within tunnels and mines; a fire would completely destroy them.

Fire resistance belts are used thoroughly throughout many industries, which includes mining, wood, paper and pulp, sugar and food, recycling and within chemical and fertilizer plants. They are used in order to make an industry more efficient, which is why they need to be safe, hence the need for fire resistance belts.

Conveyor belts represent a high risk. The reason for this is due to the fact they have the ability to spread a fire over distances. When a fire ignites on a conveyor belt it is generally started due to mechanical failures, for example in an idler bearing or by friction. Using a fire resistance belt however means that this risk is minimised.

With the help of a fire resistance belt you will ensure that you don’t lose products due to the ignition of a fire. You are protecting yourself, your employees and your business as well as your property from the effects of a fire. They are well worth the investment, especially if you require them for enclosed spaces such as tunnels or if indeed you are in the mining business and need that added extra protection.

A fire-resistant conveyor belt has the merits of conveying materials of high strength, long distance, and large loads. However, it also has the properties of fire-resistance and anti-static, and it is suitable for conveying materials under coal mine wells.

There are many safety standards that exist today and fire safety is generally always high on this list. Everything possible that can be done to minimise the risk of a fire breaking out should be done. Also there are a lot of industries that are in operation today that require the use of one or many conveyor belts. It is due to this fact that fire resistance belts should be used wherever possible, regardless of what business you are in. Even if you aren’t permitted to place fire resistance belts within your business I recommend that you do anyway in order to protect your business and your staff just in case the worst were to happen.

If you are looking into purchasing Fire Resistant Belts then Howcroft Industrial Supplies is the only place you need. They are industry established and specialise in all forms of Belts.

Traction Railway Bearings

If you are looking for the perfect way to increase the performance that is seen on the railways then you need traction railway bearings. These are the best option you have in order to increasingly improve the performance in railway applications.

Traction bearings are so important to the railways due to the fact that special consideration should be given to the economical operation of railway vehicles as well as their overall safety and reliability.

Now more than ever countries around the world are investing in new railway networks, which comes as no surprise due to the fact that they are considered to be the ideal form of transportation, especially when it comes to long journeys. In order to accommodate this investment in the trains network a new generation of trains are required in order for the train network to go faster than ever before as well as to travel much longer distances without the hassle of maintenance. All of this of course puts a lot of added stress on the traction motors and rolling bearings of the trains, which is why it is so important for traction railway bearings to be used as they will be able to handle the extra stress.

Traction railway bearings have been designed and engineered in a way that makes them a lot stronger than just your average bearing. They have been designed in such a way that means they are able to operate under some very serve conditions, which include the following:

• High radial and axial loads
• High impact loads
• High speed
• Extended periods of operation without maintenance

All of the above points are what make traction bearings perfect for the railway network. These traction railway bearings are generally made from roller bearings and they are usually cylindrical ones because of their high-speed and heavy-load capabilities as well as easy assembly and disassembly.

By using traction railway bearings you are in effect offering new opportunities for space savings, easier mounting and longer maintenance intervals as well as improved performance. They allow you to achieve lower life cycle costs within the railway network and unlike gearbox bearings, traction railway bearings are usually grease lubricated in order to avoid the complication of an oil system and to avoid any risk of oil actually entering into the motor.

In the past grease lubrication has been used mainly for low speed bearings as this is the most appropriate and reliable. However for high speed bearings special greases have been developed in order to cope with the relatively high temperatures and high degree of mechanical working. In cases such as this however the greasing instructions need to be carefully followed and the bearing housing must have appropriate arrangements to expel excess grease. If a high speed bearing is over-packed with grease it will overheat. This generally demonstrates that the only time traction railway bearings won’t perform to their full potential is when they are accidentally over greased.

As the railway industry is growing and improving it is vital that traction railway bearings are made a part of this. They can help to change the way the network runs and could be just the thing to get more people using the trains again.

Howcroft Industrial Supplies are leading suppliers when it comes to all forms of Bearings, which includes Traction Railway Bearings.

Electrically Insulated Bearings

The passage of electrical currents under certain circumstances may damage rolling bearings that are used in electrical machines. Such damage can cause considerable and expensive problems, which will probably result in you replacing the machine.

Bearings are an essential part of many, if not most machines. They are found in pretty much any piece of machinery or technology that twists or turns. This includes most forms of automobile. Without these bearings many pieces of machinery would fail to work, which is why you need to ensure that your bearings are protected against certain aspects such as electro corrosion.

There are a number of modern electrical machines that have high degrees of performance as well as demanding reliability and service life. It is due to factors such as this that equipment failures due to electro corrosion can result in causing significant problems. This generally happens when the machines that the bearings are present in is used in unfavourable operating conditions; this is how bearings in electrical machines can be damaged by the passage of electrical currents.

Damage to bearings due to electro corrosion can be caused by a number of factors such as faulty or damaged installation of bearing shields. This is down to the fact that the contact areas between housing, outer ring, rolling elements, inner ring and the shaft can all act as electric contacts. This enables damage to occur to rolling elements as well as raceways of bearing rings. The one way however that you can help to protect machines and pieces of technology from electro corrosion is through the use of electrically insulated bearings. This form of bearing is available in all standard sizes with rind diameters ranging from 80-400mm.

Electrically insulated bearings protect against damage to ensure that your automobile or piece of machinery continues to run smoothly. They are sough after for this exact reason. They are really important for the fact that reliability is an essential requirement for modern bearings and these provide you with the most reliability that you are going to get from a type of bearing.

Electro corrosion can damage automobiles and pieces of machinery in a variety of ways. The appearance and the degree of electrical damage of the bearings depend on the individual operating conditions e.g. the actual effective voltage; but how do you know when electro corrosion has occurred? You may notice the process only by the symptoms, which could include an increased running noise or vibrations until the bearing fails prematurely. The appearance of the damage may vary from visually detectable single craters and to fluting with discolorations around the affected areas.

Electro corrosion could happen to any piece of technology or machinery and automobile; especially when they are exposed to harsh conditions. Out of all the forms of protection that are available I feel that it is safe to say electrically insulated bearings are the only solution that provides optimal protection against damage. Not only do these bearings protect again electro corrosion but they also help to improve the overall reliability of electrical machines compared to conventional bearings.

Electrical insulted bearings are defiantly worth looking into as the benefits and protection that they can bring to your electrical machinery is better than anything else currently on the market.

Electrical Insulated Bearings are used in a number of applications, so if you are thinking about investing in them then look no further than Howcroft Industrial Supplies.