Ceramic bearing clearance standards revealed: industrial secrets you have to know

Ceramic bearing clearance standards revealed: industrial secrets you have to know

In the huge system of modern industry, ceramic bearings, although small in size, play a critical role and can be called the "invisible heroes" of industrial operation. In the aerospace field, they help aircraft maintain stable performance under extreme temperatures and high-speed flight conditions, reduce their own weight and thus improve flight efficiency; in the petrochemical industry, with excellent corrosion resistance, they can operate stably in corrosive media such as acids and alkalis for a long time, reducing equipment failures and maintenance costs; in the field of mechanical manufacturing, the high hardness and high precision characteristics allow it to withstand higher loads and speeds, improving the processing accuracy and operating stability of the equipment. In addition, ceramic bearings also have indispensable applications in many industries such as power electronics, medical equipment, and new energy vehicles.

Among the many performance parameters of ceramic bearings, the clearance standard is an extremely important indicator. It is like the "breathing rhythm" of the bearing, accurately regulating the operating state of the bearing, and profoundly affecting the bearing's service life, operating accuracy and overall performance of the equipment.

The influence of clearance on the performance of ceramic bearings

The clearance has a profound impact on the performance of ceramic bearings. Too large or too small a clearance will cause a series of problems.

When the clearance is too small, the lubrication space between the rolling element and the raceway inside the bearing is greatly compressed, which is like a narrow channel that makes it difficult for the lubricant to flow smoothly, resulting in poor lubrication. In this case, the friction between the rolling element and the raceway increases sharply, just like two rough objects rubbing directly, which will generate a lot of heat. Continuous high temperature will not only accelerate the wear of bearing parts, but also may cause changes in the performance of bearing materials, such as decreased hardness, changes in metallographic structure, etc. In severe cases, it may even cause the bearing to glue and jam, causing the bearing to fail prematurely and greatly shorten its service life.

When the clearance is too large, the running stability of the bearing will be seriously affected. During high-speed operation, the rolling element is like running in an overly loose track, which is prone to produce large vibrations and noises, just like a loose wheel will make abnormal noises and shake when turning. At the same time, excessive clearance will reduce the bearing's ability to bear loads, because the rolling elements cannot share the load evenly, and local areas will be subjected to excessive pressure, which accelerates the wear of the rolling elements and raceways, which will also shorten the life of the bearing and fail to meet the needs of long-term stable operation of the equipment.