Mechanical Components

A new chainflex cable box is proving a best seller for igus. The chainflex CASE, a new logistics solution from this global manufacturer of energy chain systems and polymer plain bearings, is saving customers both time and money.

Virtual Reality (VR) means much more than video games, as when purchasing an electrical device you’re invariably presented with a table featuring the part’s working parameters and operational limits. Discovering these limits takes a lot of testing, so can simulations simplify this process? Here, Steve Hughes, Managing Director of REO UK, discusses the details that go into simulating, stress-testing and prototyping electrical components.

There are a huge number of variables you need to weigh up when selecting the right types of bearings for your project. There is no doubt things can get confusing, particularly if your project is non-standard. Here, Chris Johnson Managing Director at SMB Bearings, explains one of six important bearing selection considerations.

Up to 40% of a vegetable crop can go to waste due to the aesthetic requirements of some supermarkets. While a wonky vegetable may not be the most visually pleasing, it possesses the same nutritional value as its perfectly proportioned counterpart. Here, Chris Johnson, Managing Director of SMB Bearings, explains why not all bearing surface damage should cause alarm and future headaches for offshore oil and gas plant managers.

Bearing buyers often request bearings with a lifespan of up to 100,000 hours of operation. While the bearing manufacturer has done its own testing to validate the lifespan against different loads, it doesn’t paint the whole picture of how a bearing will endure the buyer’s specific application. Here Chris Johnson, Managing Director at SMB Bearings explains how sophisticated bearing simulation software can be used to support application specific bearing design and analysis processes.

Vehicle Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) ask for three things when sourcing vehicle parts: good price, quality and service. Here, Nick Jordan, Head of Engineering and Quality at Pailton Engineering, explains how one assembly process at its headquarters in Coventry, UK has amped up all three of these ever-important factors. Universal joints play a critical role in the steering system.

Estimates show that wave power could supply ten percent of the global demand for energy by the year 2050. If true, this would be a significant boost to a greener future, but currently, this renewable energy source is still in development. Here, Chris Johnson, Managing Director of SMB Bearings, explains how bearings will be a key enabler of ocean power.

American novelist, Kurt Vonnegut once said “another flaw in the human character is that everybody wants to build and nobody wants to do maintenance”. In our daily work in engineering we know this to be true in many cases. However, only by maintaining what’s been built can we keep industrial operations running. Here, Steve Haughton, Technical Manager at DiPerk, explains some common causes of engine failure, how to detect them and engine health.

It has become a cliché to say that the coronavirus pandemic is posing an unprecedented challenge to global supply chains. Bearings are vital to the effective functioning of so many applications that supply chain management cannot be neglected for those who rely on them. Here, Chris Johnson, Managing Director at SMB Bearings, explains how best to ensure your supply chain delivers the bearings you need.

To counteract confusion over the many steel bearing variations available, SMB Bearings has published a new steel bearings guide to provide a helpful resource. The guide, Steel bearings: an essential guide to this essential workhorse, also provides practical application advice when choosing a steel bearing, which can be downloaded for free on the SMB Bearings website.