Low-cost steel ball bearings cost-effective

SKF applies for a health diagnosis patent for electric vehicle motor bearings to monitor the health status of motor bearingsAccording to news from the financial industry on October 28, 2024, information from the State Intellectual Property Office shows that SKF has applied for a patent titled "Health Diagnosis Method and System for Motor Bearings for Electric Vehicles", with the public number CN 118817306 A. The application date is April 2023.The patent abstract shows that the present invention provides a health diagnosis method and system for motor bearings of electric vehicles. The method may include: collecting parameter data related to the motor bearing; preprocessing the parameter data to generate preprocessed parameter data; performing feature extraction processing on the preprocessed parameter data to obtain one or more features; and inputting the obtained one or more features into an anomaly detection model, and diagnosing the health status of the motor bearing based on the output of the anomaly detection model, wherein the parameter data includes the At least one of current data associated with the motor of the electric vehicle and rotor rotation data associated with the rotor of the motor.The health diagnosis method and system of the motor bearing of the present invention can be used to monitor the health status of the motor bearing without the need to additionally set up a specific acceleration sensor in the electric drive system, thereby avoiding an increase in cost.

Focus on the 2024 World Robot Conference held in Beijing. This conference received support from 26 international organizations. The number of international participants increased by 9.7% compared with last year, setting a record high. Many foreign companies and visitors are increasingly interested in China’s “intelligent manufacturing”. At the exhibition site, a robot spherical bearing produced by a Chinese company attracted widespread attention. Exhibitors said that such products are very popular in overseas markets. North American sales director Jerry Nick said: "We mainly sell spherical bearings and connecting rod assemblies produced in China. Although there are similar companies in my country, Chinese companies have done an excellent job in mass-producing these products. This time The conference is large-scale and covers a wide range of fields from industrial robots to bionic robots.China's manufacturing industry has received high praise overseas and has also attracted the attention of many foreign manufacturers. A sensor originating from a Korean university is attracting attention for its potential applications in bionic robotics and security. The huge potential of the Chinese market attracts these engineers. Li Runxing, head of the exhibiting company, said: “Our hand devices have built-in sensors that can sense and grasp objects like humans. We believe that China is a key market for the rapid growth of the global robotics industry, and China is very active in robotics technology and manufacturing. We are actively preparing and hope to introduce our sensors to the Chinese market and show them to Chinese customers.In addition to humanoid robots and bionic robots of various shapes, various service robots have also attracted the interest of a large number of audiences. At the venue, service robots that can make coffee and pancakes were particularly eye-catching. An audience from Peru said in an interview: "I am from Peru, and I am mainly looking for some service-type robotic arms that can make coffee. I think China's robotics technology is very advanced and incorporates artificial intelligence. This exhibition is very exciting .

How high temperature can stainless steel bearings withstand?The high temperature resistance of stainless steel bearings mainly depends on factors such as their material type, chemical composition, manufacturing process, and subsequent heat treatment and surface treatment. Generally speaking, the high temperature resistance range of stainless steel bearings can be roughly divided into the following categories:1. High temperature resistance range of common stainless steel bearingsAustenitic stainless steel bearings (such as AISI 304 and AISI 316):AISI 304: Generally able to maintain its performance in a temperature range of -196°C to about 800°C, but long-term work at high temperatures may affect its strength and hardness. However, it is also said that its high temperature resistance mainly depends on the specific application environment and conditions, and may behave differently in high temperature environments.AISI 316: Due to the addition of Mo element, its corrosion resistance and high temperature strength have been significantly improved. The high temperature resistance can reach 1200-1300℃, but this high temperature range is more of a theoretical value under specific conditions or a short period of time. Practical applications may vary depending on work environment.Martensitic stainless steel bearings (such as AISI 440C):This type of stainless steel is known for its high hardness and strength and is suitable for manufacturing bearings that carry high loads. Its high temperature resistance is slightly lower than that of austenitic stainless steel, and it usually operates in the range of -196°C to about 450°C.2. Specially designed high-temperature bearingsSome specially designed high-temperature bearings, such as those from SKF and other brands, can be designed for higher operating temperatures, such as up to 350°C. These bearings use special materials, heat treatment processes and lubricants to ensure stable operation in high temperature environments.3. Comprehensive considerationsMaterial composition: Alloying elements in stainless steel such as nickel, molybdenum, etc. can improve its stability at high temperatures.Manufacturing process: The manufacturing process, including heat treatment and surface treatment, can significantly affect the high temperature resistance of stainless steel bearings.Cage and sealing materials: These components must also be able to withstand the corresponding high temperatures.Lubricant: At high temperatures, lubricant selection is critical to bearing performance and must have excellent thermal stability and oxidation resistance.The high temperature resistance of stainless steel bearings is not fixed, but is affected by many factors. In general applications, stainless steel bearings can maintain good performance in the temperature range of 300°C to 600°C. However, for specially designed high temperature bearings or applications in extreme operating environments, the high temperature performance may vary. Therefore, when selecting and using stainless steel bearings, specific working conditions and environmental requirements should be fully considered to ensure the best performance and longest life of the bearings.

Do these four things well, the bearings will not age so earlyTo ensure that bearings do not age prematurely, focus on the following four aspects:1. Keep cleanEnvironmental control: Ensure that the bearings and their surroundings are dust-free, as even tiny dust can cause bearing wear.Proper storage: Bearings should be placed horizontally in a clean, dry and room temperature environment in their original packaging. Avoid storing them in the same warehouse as chemical products. The relative humidity of the warehouse should not exceed 65%.Regular cleaning: Clean the bearings regularly, using cleaning agents such as gasoline or kerosene. Be careful to protect the bearings from direct contact with dirt in the container, and avoid damaging the bearing rolling surface during rough cleaning.2. Correct installation and removalUse professional tools: When installing and removing bearings, special tools such as bearing pullers or induction heaters should be used, and strong stamping or direct hammering should be avoided to prevent bearing deformation.Careful inspection: Before installation, carefully check the physical condition of the shaft or bearing seat to ensure that there is no damage or defects.Correct method: When installing bearings, the correct method should be used, according to the type of bearing and the type of fit, to ensure that the pressure is applied in the correct position to avoid rolling element damage.3. Lubrication and maintenanceChoose the right lubricant: Consider the environmental conditions, temperature, speed and load conditions to select the right lubricant, filling amount and lubrication method.Regular lubrication: Regularly add or change oil according to the motor's running time, environment, load and grease condition to ensure that the bearings are fully lubricated.Check the lubrication condition: Regularly check whether the bearing grease or lubricating oil is sufficient, how clean it is, and whether there is any dripping to ensure the normal operation of the lubrication system.4. Avoid abnormal working conditionsControl temperature: Ensure that the operating temperature of the bearing is within the designed limit temperature range to avoid long-term high temperature operation resulting in reduced load capacity and early failure.Monitor vibration and noise: Use a vibration tester to perform vibration tests on the bearings, and judge whether there is abnormal noise in the bearings by observation and hearing, so as to promptly discover and deal with potential problems.Avoid corrosion: In a humid environment, special attention should be paid to preventing bearing corrosion, and appropriate anti-rust oil can be selected for protection.