Bearing technology

BEARING TECHNOLOGY

What is Bearing Technology?

Without bearing technology, machines do not move. Every moving system, whether biological or mechanical, has parts that move relative to each other. With movement, you always encounter friction. If the friction is too great, the system can wear out and seize up over time. In your body, your joints ensure smooth movements, where friction and wear are minimized. When designing mechanical systems, we usually use bearing technology.

Bearing Technology, a Crucial Invention

Our ancestors transported heavy stones over rolling logs. In fact, this is a very early application of bearing technology. The Romans knew wooden ball bearings, and genius inventors like Leonardo da Vinci and Galileo Galilei also described bearing principles. It wasn't until the end of the 18th century that bearing systems, as we still use them today, were developed. The world has never been the same since. What a bearing does is reduce resistance between moving parts. Depending on the direction of movement of the various parts, different types of bearings are used. If bearing technology is used correctly, machines work much faster, experience much less wear, and no energy is lost due to frictional heat. Without bearing technology, the high performance that we demand from our current machines is, in fact, impossible.

Various Implementations in Bearing Technology

One of the best-known types of bearings is the ball bearing. Between an inner and outer ring, there are a number of rolling balls. Because these balls rotate, they prevent the moving machine parts from wearing out and seizing up. However, a ball bearing is not friction-free. It always needs grease or lubricating oil for optimal operation. Ball bearings are widely used in rotating movements. It is the best-known form of a rolling bearing. Another example of a rolling bearing is the needle bearing. Here, it's small rolling cylinders that do the work. You use a needle bearing when you need a higher load capacity. However, you do sacrifice some speed.

The principle of a plain bearing is very basic. A plain bearing consists of a cylinder in which a shaft rotates. This rotation will generate frictional heat, after which wear inevitably occurs. By providing sufficient lubrication, this can be prevented, and this type of bearing works exceptionally well. Plain bearings are simple in design and application and are capable of bearing larger loads than rolling bearings. We have fully committed ourselves to the manufacture of plain bearings and offer a wide range of dry lubricant bearings and water-based bearings. In plain bearings, stick-slip often occurs, a resistance threshold that must be overcome to achieve sliding. By using the right sliding materials and the correct counter-running material, an optimal sliding condition can be created. It is of great importance that the correct hardness differences between the moving parts are applied. We offer advice in determining these choices.

Kühne Industrie and Bearing Technology.

As a market leader in plain bearing technology, Kühne Industrie can assist you in various ways. You can read all about these possibilities on this page about bearing technology.

More Information about Bearing Technology

Would you like to know more about the possibilities of our plain bearing technology or do you have questions about other products? Please feel free to contact us via: info@kuhne-industrie.nl or the contact form. We are happy to assist you.