How to Select the Appropriate Flange Bearing
In a mechanical transmission system, flange bearings play a crucial role. They not only support the rotation of the shaft but also ensure the stable operation of the equipment. To select the appropriate flange bearing, it is necessary to comprehensively consider various factors.
What is flanged slewing bearing?
The flanged slewing bearing is a type of slewing bearing. It usually consists of components such as an inner ring, an outer ring, rolling elements (such as steel balls or rollers), and a cage, and is equipped with a flange structure. This flange can be easily fixed to other components of the equipment through connectors like bolts, enabling quick installation and precise positioning. It can simultaneously withstand axial forces, radial forces, and overturning moments, providing stable support for the slewing motion of the equipment. Due to its convenient installation and accurate positioning, it is widely used in fields such as tower cranes, port handling equipment, and industrial robots, ensuring the stability and reliability of these devices during operation.
Define the Working Conditions of slewing bearing
Magnitude and Direction，Accurately measure the magnitude of the load borne by the bearing and distinguish whether it is a radial load, an axial load, or a combination of both. For example, the spindle of a machine tool mainly bears radial cutting forces, while the wheel hub bearing of a car has to withstand both the radial load caused by the vehicle’s weight and the axial force generated during vehicle steering. Select a suitable flange bearing according to the load characteristics. For instance, deep – groove ball flange bearings can withstand certain radial and axial loads, and tapered roller flange bearings are better at withstanding larger axial and radial forces.
Nature，Determine whether the load is stable or impact – type. In the metallurgical industry, for example, the frequent handling of heavy objects subjects the flange bearings of cranes to impact loads. In such cases, self – aligning roller flange bearings that can withstand impacts should be selected. Their structure can buffer the impacts and prevent premature damage to the bearings.
Operating Speed，Select the appropriate flange bearing based on the operating speed of the equipment. For high – speed rotating equipment such as motors, the bearing is required to have a low friction coefficient and a high limiting speed. Ceramic ball flange bearings can be used. The low – friction characteristics of ceramic materials help reduce heat generation and meet the requirements of high – speed operation. For low – speed and heavy – load machinery, such as crushers in mining machinery, more attention is paid to the bearing’s load – bearing capacity, and the requirement for speed is relatively low. Spherical roller flange bearings are a good choice as they can withstand heavy loads at low speeds.
Operating Temperature，Consider the temperature range of the bearing’s working environment. In high – temperature environments, ordinary carbon steel flange bearings are prone to deformation and a decrease in hardness. High – temperature – resistant alloy – material flange bearings, such as those containing alloying elements like chromium and molybdenum, should be selected. These bearings can maintain good mechanical properties at high temperatures. In low – temperature environments, to avoid embrittlement of the bearing material, flange bearings made of special low – temperature steel should be chosen to ensure sufficient toughness and strength at low temperatures.
Consider the Equipment Requirements
Installation Space，Measure the dimensions of the installation space reserved in the equipment, including the inner diameter, outer diameter, and thickness of the bearing housing. If the installation space is limited, flange bearings with a compact outer dimension, such as thin – type flange bearings, should be selected. Their thin – type design can achieve good support and rotation functions in a narrow space. If the space is relatively sufficient, bearings of more suitable sizes can be selected according to load and speed conditions.
Accuracy Requirements，Select the bearing accuracy grade according to the equipment’s requirements for motion accuracy. Precision machine tools have extremely high requirements for processing accuracy and need to use high – precision P4 or P5 – grade flange bearings to ensure the dimensional accuracy and surface quality of the processed parts. For ordinary machinery with low accuracy requirements, such as agricultural machinery, ordinary – accuracy – grade (e.g., P0) flange bearings can meet the usage requirements.
Sealing Requirements，Analyze whether there are dust, moisture, corrosive media, etc., in the equipment’s working environment. In a dusty mining environment, to prevent dust from entering the bearing and aggravating wear, flange bearings with a sealing device, such as rubber – sealed flange bearings, should be selected. Their sealing structure can effectively block dust. In a humid or corrosive – medium environment, such as in chemical equipment, in addition to selecting sealed bearings, the corrosion resistance of the bearing material also needs to be considered. Stainless – steel flange bearings can be selected.
Understand the Bearing Characteristics
Structural Types，Familiarize yourself with the characteristics of different structural flange bearings. For example, flanged mounted bearings are easy to install and can be directly fixed on the equipment’s installation surface. Flanged spherical plain bearings have an automatic self – aligning function and can compensate for misalignment caused by installation errors or shaft deflection. Flange ball bearings have a low friction coefficient and high rotational speed, and flange roller bearings have a large load – bearing capacity. Select a bearing with a matching structure according to the actual needs of the equipment.
Material Characteristics，Understand the performance of commonly used bearing materials. Bearing steel is the most common material, with high hardness, high strength, and good wear resistance. Stainless – steel flange bearings have strong corrosion resistance. Ceramic – material bearings have characteristics such as low density, high hardness, high temperature resistance, and insulation. Select the appropriate bearing material according to the working conditions and equipment requirements.
Lubrication Methods，Different lubrication methods have a significant impact on the performance of flange bearings. Grease lubrication is simple to operate and convenient to maintain, and is suitable for medium – and low – speed, light – load, and occasions where it is not convenient to refuel frequently. Oil lubrication has good heat dissipation performance and can effectively reduce friction, and is often used in high – speed and heavy – load equipment. Determine the appropriate lubrication method according to the working conditions and requirements of the equipment, and select a flange bearing that matches it.
Prices of Flange Slewing bearings
There are many factors affecting the price of slewing bearings. Firstly, raw materials. High – quality steel has a high cost, and products made from it have excellent performance and a long service life, so the price is also high. Secondly, slewing bearings with complex manufacturing processes and high – precision requirements need advanced equipment and strict quality control, and the price will also increase accordingly. Moreover, the larger and more special the size and specifications are, the greater the processing difficulty and the amount of materials used, and the higher the price will be.
Suppliers of Flange Slewing bearings
With excellent product quality, strong technical strength, and a perfect service system, ldb bearing company has become a benchmark in the slewing bearing industry. In the future, it is believed that it will continue to adhere to the concept of innovation and quality first, shine more brightly in the global market, and contribute more to the development of various industries.
