Polymer Ball Bearings?

[Skogsgurra]

Anyone using POM bearings?

I saw a short glimpse in an SKF publication where DGBB outer and inner races were made from a polymer and balls made from stainless steel.

The text said that they had a "somwhat reduced" load and speed capacity. It would be very interesting to learn from someone using these bearings where they fit and what they can take load and speed wise.

Gunnar Englund

http://www.gke.org

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100 % recycled posting: Electrons, ideas, finger-tips have been used over and over again...

 

[unclesyd]

When I was doing a lot of work for a local seafood company we used a lot of Polymer Bearings in the process equipment both on the hot and cold side. Most of the bearings were running at around 1/2 their design limits as to load and speed. If I recall during my tenure we had only one failure of a bearing and it was covered under warranty. These bearings operated in some extreme conditions of cold -20F and 212F with exposure to both salt water and sanitizing chemicals.
On the fishing boats there were numerous polymer bearings in the fishing gear sheaves. Most of these bearings were highly loaded but very slow speed.

Here are the design limits for some SKF bearings

http://www.skf.com/skf/productcatal...=en&newlink=1&tableName=1_23_5&perfid=101601,

 

[Skogsgurra]

Thanks unclesyd!

That table is of great help. The "somewhat" should be changed to "a lot". A 40 mm ID bearing has speed limits between 575 and 750 RPM. That's not what I mean with "somewhat" reduced speed. I am used to seeing 4000 - 5000 RPM at those diameters and normal 6208 or 6308 bearings.

OK, good to know. Also what I kind of suspected - plastic isn't steel after all.

Gunnar Englund

http://www.gke.org

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100 % recycled posting: Electrons, ideas, finger-tips have been used over and over again...

 

[diskullman]

You may want to look at Jilson group as well.

http://www.jilson.com/radial.htm

Russell Giuliano