If you’re the procurer of components for any kind of machinery or equipment, there’s a good chance that bearings are going to feature prominently on your agenda. These very unassuming components of any piece of machinery rarely make the headlines, but without them, industrial operations simply won’t run. The bearing selection process is more important than you ever thought possible.
What Exactly Are Bearings?
Fundamentally, bearings are used to support movement by reducing friction between components. Without bearings, the friction that results from components contacting each other would be detrimental.
However, if one thinks about the basic design principles that have applied to bearings for many years, one will realise that bearings are indeed highly complex designs for such a seemingly uncomplicated item. The design principles are much the same for bearings that are required to operate at high temperatures as for those that are expected to operate at lower temperatures.
The Main Types You’ll Encounter
In roller bearings, bearings consist of cylinders or tapered or spherical rollers. Instead of ball bearings, these bearings have rollers. The drawback is that these bearings have limited use in radial loads.
In plain bearings, also known as bushings or sleeve bearings, the design is altogether different. In these bearings, instead of relying on the use of the rolling elements, a layer of lubrication is used. These bearings are easier to make, less noisy, and can be designed to be miniature, though they require frequent maintenance.
The Hidden Costs of Getting It Wrong
A bearing costing £50 may appear like a great steal as opposed to the one that is costing £200, although if the bearing fails after six months rather than five years, you are still not spending less cash.
However, unplanned shutdowns are costly. Very costly. Among the major factors you are paying for with an unplanned shutdown is the actual cost of the bearing, but you also incur the cost of lost production, labour, and, in some cases, may not be able to deliver to a customer. In the case of a failed bearing in a critical machine, you could be losing thousands of pounds per hour.
A good supplier of bearings is more than just a vendor for the components you need. They should, or at least can, offer you assistance in determining what you actually need, provide you with alternatives if the first specification you give them is not the best, and provide support in the event things don’t go as you had hoped.
If you notice that suppliers merely process your order without posing questions, be alerted that this is not really working in your favour. If you request a specific type of bearing and the suppliers do not inquire about the usage or the expected lifespan, these are not suppliers you should be working with.
While bearings may not be the most thrilling part of your machinery, they warrant proper attention. While you take the time to understand your own needs, select the right specifications, and get the right suppliers, you’ll be pleasantly rewarded.