Axial thrust ball bearing running face

[alansimpson]

I wish to make an axial thrust bearing arrangement with caged ball bearing. I need to make the rolling surface or "thrust washer", see attached sketch.
What would be best material to use to minimize friction and maximize life?
Needs to be thin (0.5mm), non-magnetic.
Axial loading 2-5 Kg.
Speed 0-500 rpm.

 

[GregLocock]

Diamond?



Cheers

Greg Locock

SIGlease see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[MikeHalloran]

Guys who make needle roller thrust bearings sell a part like that, in a limited number of sizes, made of hardened bearing steel.

All are quite a bit thicker than you ask. ... probably because a part that thin would also be brittle, or very difficult to case harden.

You might get close with stripper bolt shims, but they probably won't be quite hard enough.





Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[OTHGWayne]

Depending on loads, you might consider stellite 6B. Yes it is hard to machine, but it is machinable.

 

[tbuelna]

alansimpson,

Rather than making your bearing a "point" contact condition (ie. a sphere on a flat plate), why don't you design for a ball on a curved race (ie. with osculation)? The difference in friction would be negligible, but the difference in B10 life would be very significant.

There are no decent bearing steels that are non-magnetic, but there are high-performance ceramic bearing materials (like SiN) that are non-magnetic.

Good luck,
Terry

 

[TBone216]

Have you looked into flexure pivot bearings. They are frictionless and have an infinite life cycle under certain cirumstances.

http://www.flexpivots.com