What are mechanical bearings?

Mechanical Bearing (Mechanical Bearing) is a component in mechanical equipment that is used to support the rotating shaft or swing shaft and bear its load and friction. It allows the shaft to rotate or oscillate freely within itself while keeping the shaft's axial and radial position stable. Mechanical bearings are widely used in various mechanical equipment, such as automobiles, machine tools, motors, ships, aircraft, etc., and are one of the key components to ensure the normal operation of mechanical equipment.

There are many types of mechanical bearings, which can be divided into different types according to different classification standards. Common classification methods include:

1. Classification by structure: rolling bearings and sliding bearings. Rolling bearings reduce friction by rolling elements (such as steel balls, rollers, etc.) between the inner and outer rings. They are suitable for high-speed, high-precision and low-noise applications. Sliding bearings support and position the shaft through the sliding friction between the journal and the bearing bush. They are suitable for low speed, heavy load and impact situations.

2. Classification according to the direction of force: radial bearings and thrust bearings. Radial bearings mainly bear radial loads, that is, forces perpendicular to the axis; thrust bearings mainly bear axial loads, that is, forces parallel to the axis.

3. Classification according to lubrication method: oil lubricated bearings and grease lubricated bearings. Oil-lubricated bearings reduce friction and heat dissipation by circulating lubricating oil inside the bearing, and are suitable for high-speed, heavy-load and high-temperature applications. Grease lubricated bearings apply grease inside the bearing to reduce friction through the viscosity and adhesion of the grease. They are suitable for low speed, light load and intermittent operation situations.

The performance of mechanical bearings directly affects the operating efficiency, accuracy and life of mechanical equipment. A high-quality bearing should have the following characteristics

Features:

1. High precision: The processing accuracy of the inner and outer rings, rolling elements, cages and other components of the bearing should meet the design requirements to ensure the rotation accuracy and stability of the bearing.

2. High load-bearing capacity: Bearings should be able to withstand specified radial, axial and combined loads to ensure that mechanical equipment will not malfunction during normal operation.

3. Excellent lubrication performance: Bearings should have good lubrication performance to reduce friction and wear and increase the service life of the bearing.

4. Wear resistance and corrosion resistance: Bearing materials should have good wear resistance and corrosion resistance to adapt to various complex working environments.

5. Low noise and vibration: Bearings should produce less noise and vibration during operation to improve the comfort and stability of mechanical equipment.

In order to ensure the normal operation of mechanical bearings and extend their service life, regular maintenance is required, such as replacing grease, cleaning bearings, checking bearing wear, etc. At the same time, when installing and disassembling bearings, operating procedures and precautions should be followed to avoid damaging the bearings or affecting the performance of mechanical equipment.