Mechanical Components

Some engineers hesitate to use plastic bearings in their designs. Maybe because they have trusted metal and bronze bearings for years or they simply don't think plastics can handle the tough applications or environmental elements. Plastic bearings, however, can endure extreme temperatures, heavy loads and high speeds. However, it's important to understand both the advantages and disadvantages of the options available.

An innovative new Electronic Parking Brake for tractors and agricultural vehicles has been launched by SKF. The new hybrid system is based on a mechanical emergency brake combined with a patented SKF intelligent electro-mechanical actuator, which operates on a conventional transmission parking brake. This system provides a number of important benefits, improving braking efficiency and operator safety, while reducing overall emissions and operating costs.

Premature bearing failure is a frightening reality for some OEM bearing users. Too often applications are compromised because of this unfortunate circumstance leading to expensive field replacement costs and loss of valuable time and money. Napoleon Engineering Services (NES) is offering a complete bearing inspection and testing program that enables clients to identify the potential for bearing failure before a new bearing supplier is used in the application.

LG Motion Limited recently designed and supplied a large custom built X-Z detector positioning system for the I24 Microfocus Macromolecular Crystallography (MX) beamline at Diamond Light Source, the UK’s national synchrotron science facility.

Heason Technology has been awarded a £¼ million order by Synchrotron Soleil, the French national synchrotron facility and research laboratory, to design and manufacture four nanopositioning manipulators that combine as a 14 axis ultra-high vacuum and low magnetic motion system to position samples and optics for an exciting new soft x-ray scanning photoemission microscope project called ANTARES.

Ruland has developed and now manufactures quick clamping shaft collars. A European patent has been obtained for the design. The new collars allow for quick adjustments and do not require tools. They are ideal for printing, packaging, medical, machine vision or semi-conductor manufacturing equipment to retain frequently adjusted items such as rolls of media, guide rails or other setup fixturing, or everywhere the need for tools is not practical.

NSK’s ability to provide cost saving solutions in the food and beverage sectors industry was demonstrated on a food conveying auger that was suffering from contamination – metal debris - as a result of water ingress into its bottom support bearings. By providing a solution to this problem with its triple-lip sealed bearings, NSK has saved the food producer (GBP)77,179 per year in lost production time, plus the cost of new bearings, labour and engineering support.

PIV Drives is a part of Brevini Riduttori S.P.A., a leading manufacturers of mechanical power transmission systems. Products include helical, bevel helical and spiral bevel gearboxes, all of which provide operators with the highest levels of performance, reliability and flexibility in heavy duty mining applications.

Compact oil immersed hydraulic brake units from Wichita are enabling renewable energy turbines to make the most of energy production from sub sea tidal flows. The Rotech Tidal Turbine is a unique solution to the problem of providing renewable energy, one that is predictable, economical and has a minimal visual impact on the environment.

igus has recently expanded the new “xiros” plastic ball bearing range. The positive feedback from customers’ has resulted in the xiros maintenance-free polymer ball bearings becoming an independent product line. The name xiros is derived from the Ancient Greek xsiros which means dry, and ball bearings for lubricant-free dry running. The inner and outer rings are manufactured in two further materials and there are additional dimensions available.