Mechanical Components

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.

There is little doubt that the world is witnessing unprecedented times due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. A vast majority of the world’s population and businesses have been affected in some way, and the global engineering community is no exception. National lockdowns have proven particularly challenging for factories trying to remain operational and ensure deliveries to key customers.

Knowing the suffix code for your preferred bearing closure may make you look like a bearing whizz. However, asking the right questions to ensure that you’ve selected the most suitable option for your specific application environment is the real smart move and will extend your bearing’s service life in the long run. Here, Chris Johnson, Managing Director at SMB Bearings, explains three questions you should ask when choosing between a bearing shield or seal.

Pierre Langevin patented the first technological application of ultrasound during World War One by inventing a device to detect submarines. Like Langevin, maintenance engineers and plant managers can also use ultrasound for detection. Either by itself or as a companion technology, ultrasound can be an excellent part of condition monitoring for your bearings. Here, Chris Johnson, Managing Director at SMB Bearings, provides an introduction into some of the benefits of this technology.

It’s easy to believe that something made of steel will last forever. However, no matter how well you care for bearings in your plant equipment, they will eventually wear and need to be replaced. This is because they have what’s known as a fatigue life. Here, Chris Johnson, managing director of SMB Bearings, explains how to avoid shortening their lifespan.

In mathematics, Pascal’s triangle is an arrangement constructed by summing adjacent elements in preceding rows. It has applications in algebra, probability and is a useful model for calculating combinations - commonly referred to as 'n choose k'. Here, Chris Johnson, Managing Director of SMB Bearings, explains how to navigate the seemingly endless choices in the bearing retainer design process.