A new brochure, from Quality Bearings & Components, New Hyde Park. N.Y., features a uniquely constructed series of hydrodynamic-pressure bearings that weigh 30% less and cost less than conventional ball bearings. The brochure, identified as 8607, is available from the company upon request.
Hydrodynamic-pressure bearings provide long-lasting, high-speed, quiet operation and are suitable for light applications, such as compact fan motors, paper feeders in copy machines and printers, laptop computers, and micromotors. The bearings, identified as BBSPLN-L Series, are formed by stacking "petal-shaped" laminated aluminum-silicon alloy plates that are housed in a stainless-steel case. The case has a polyurea-thickened grease containing antioxidant and anticorrosion additives. The inner faces of the laminated plates act as the bore of the assembled bearing.
When the shaft rotates, a fluid between the shaft guide and the shaft generates pressure and maintains a clearance of 7 to 10 µm. The seven bearings in the series have IDs ranging from 1 to 6 mm and a maximum speed range from 6,000 to 20,000 rpm.