Micro Ceramic Bearings

[MadMango]

I'm looking for sources for ceramic bearing vendors, and their use. Preferably in the USA. I have an application for a ceramic bearing in the neighborhood of .047" [1.2mm] ID bearing, .125" [3.2mm] L. All my search efforts are only churning up hits for RC cars and skateboards applications, I'm more interested in micro fan-like applications.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

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[ornerynorsk]

You might try Bird Precision.

 

[asimpson]

You probably wont have much luck outside China for ceramic ball bearings. I got some for for 3mm shaft. Not very smooth.
With ceramic it is difficult to achieve the tolerances you can get with steel.

Jewel bearings might be a better option. A ruby plain bearing on metal spindle.

As ornerynorsk said. Bird Precision have a good range of jewel bearings.

 

[MadMango]

Thanks for the lead. I should have been more specific, looking for plain sleeve bearings, not ball bearings. We hadn't considered jewels.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

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[unclesyd]

what you are looking for is a "ring jewel" bearing.
Aside from the information on Bird Precision here are two others, Swiss Jewel and Industrial Jewels. We have used all three companies

http://www.swissjewel.com/2/ring_jewels/

http://www.industrialjewels.com/ring_jewel.htm