High Tech and Long life
In the Hannover Fair’s Motion, Drive & Automation (MDA) segment, INA and FAG will showcase X-life machined needle roller bearings with dynamic load ratings that have been increased by 13 percent. Product life has also been increased by up to 50 percent. These significant improvements have been achieved for the RNA, NA, NK, NKI product series with maximum outside diameters of 120 mm. The result are efficient bearing supports with longer service life, reduced lubricant consumption, less friction and lower bearing temperatures.
These positive changes are based on comprehensive testing and a a considerably improved manufacturing method. It became evident that the achievable life greatly depends on the surface roughness of the contacting partners – the surface structure determines wear behavior. Protruding peaks may cause increased friction and premature wear in raceway surfaces. Plateau-like surfaces with pronounced grooves on the other hand ensure a good lubricating film and the best possible running characteristics. The high level of manufacturing quality at INA/FAG ensures optimal surface roughness and the geometric accuracy of the machined needle roller bearing raceways.
Another highlight to be presented in Hannover will be the expanded range of TN plastic cages. These cages perform important guidance in the bearing and must support relatively high loads. The material used for the cages is heat-stabilized, glass fiber reinforced polyamide PA66-GF/H which is both strong and elastic. Since plastic cages can hold more rolling elements than steel cages, dynamic load ratings increase by up to 20 percent, depending on the bearing type.
As a result of the positive sliding characteristics of plastic on lubricated steel surfaces and the minimal roughness of the cage surface, cage friction and heat generation in the bearing are very low. If lubricated properly, polyamide cages are no differnt from metal cages. However, if lubrication is only slightly insufficient, plastic is clearly superior to steel. Elaborate testing has served to verify the dry-running characteristics of polyamide.
Manufacturing also yields accurately formed cages. The undercut of the needle retention on the cage can be injection molded, and tabs can be furnished against the rolling element protrusion using a patented INA process. The bearings easily slide onto the shaft, saving expensive mounting costs. Finally, polyamide cages ensure that bearings operate with low-noise, an additional benefit customers expect for many applications today.
Modern machined standard needle roller bearings are used in machine tools, medical technology, machines for the chemical industry, automotive engineering applicatons as well as in sports equipment and electrical household appliances, to name just a few examples. The bearings require only small radial envelope and have low moving masses. In addition, they must support high loads, run quietly, be easy to mount and maintenance-friendly as well as efficient. Various sizes of X-life needle roller bearings will be introduced successively by the end of the year.
X-life products by INA FAG offer designers increased efficiency for their applications and an improved price-performance ratio. The X-life mark of quality stands for best-in-class products in the companies’ catalog product range and strengthens INA’s and FAG’s market position as global players.
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