is there a critical size / strength ratio for ball races/bearings that require to take weight loading?

Question

our ball bearings hold a sleeve on a shaft and may suffer severe axial loading . Life of ball is an issue as the sleeve rotates around the lubricated shaft. I seek the experience of others in resolving this issue.

Answer 1

try here---
http://www.bearings.machinedesign.com/

Answer 2

Since you limit your application to BALL bearings then you must first decide whether it is a Radial or Axial load you are considering.

In either case the ball bearings will be in compression.

In practise hardened nickel chrome alloy steels are used in their manufacture.

To determine the load bearing a compression test would need to be carried out on a sample ball.

The load/size ratio at the elastic limit would be used to amass data. A safety factor would then be applied.

Tables may be obtained from any reputable bearing manufacturer indicating the Load/Size for a given application.

Consideration has to be given to the fact that ALL alloy steels have elastic properties which will produce a very small deformation of the ball and race under load.

The advantage of ball bearings is that sliding friction ( two surfaces sliding against each other as in a plain bearing) is replaced by the much lower 'rolling friction'.

It should be borne in mind that where physical dimensions of the application limit the size of the bearing, then a number of smaller bearings may be incorporated into the design.

Answer 3

If you are handling light to medium combinations of axial and radial loads, use angular contact bearings. For medium to heavy, use tapered roller bearings. For pure axial loads, use thrust bearings. All is subject to what speeds you are running and how dynamic the loads are. A bearing manufacturer (koyo,torrington, etc) could probably offer application engineering assistance.

Answer 4

Is this a high speed or low speed application?

For low speed application use a "max ball" bearing,should be fine.

Answer 5

What you are addressing are roller bearings, then the whole scenario changes, dry luricants are suggested