Bearing Manufacturing

Nov. 15, 2002
Some manufacturing processes increase bearing life.

Some manufacturing processes increase bearing life. Their main disadvantage is additional cost.

Forging produces a fiber orientation in the race material that makes the races less sensitive to variations in steel quality. Bearings with forged races can have dynamic capacities up to twice as high as bearings with races cut from tubing.

Compressive residual stress reduces maximum shearing stress and increases fatigue life. For bearings with light to medium loads, residual compressive stress can increase life. But for bearings with heavy loads, the effect is significant.

Controlled-hardness bearings have rolling elements and races matched for hardness. Generally, the rolling elements are 1 to 2 Rc harder than the races. Since fatigue life is related to hardness, the matching process can result in order-of-magnitude improvements in fatigue life.

Sponsored Recommendations

June 27, 2025
Ensure workplace safety and compliance with our comprehensive Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Safety Training course. Learn critical procedures to prevent serious injuries.
June 27, 2025
Join our expert webinar to discover essential safety control measures and best practices for engineering a truly safe and compliant industrial environment.
June 25, 2025
An innovative aircraft with electric drives combines the best of both worlds. The cross between drone and helicopter could mean significantly faster and more efficient air emergency...
June 25, 2025
Effective when other materials fail, ceramics are particularly suitable for applications requiring wear and chemical resistance, sliding characteristics or biocompatibility. Discover...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Machine Design, create an account today!