How small are miniature bearings?

They refer to single-row deep groove ball bearings with an inner diameter less than 10 millimeters.

In which fields can they be applied?

Miniature bearings are suitable for various industrial equipment, small rotary motors, and other high-speed, low-noise applications such as office equipment, micro motors, instruments, laser engraving, small clocks, soft drives, pressure rotors, dental drills, hard disk motors, stepper motors, camera drums, toy models, computer cooling fans, bill counters, fax machines, and related fields.

The manufacturing process for miniature bearings is more precise than standard bearings, and the long-term replacement cost is relatively high. So how can we extend the service life of miniature bearings? As someone with years of experience producing miniature bearings, Xiao Yun has summarized the following four key points for you:

Correct installation of miniature bearings is crucial

Whether the installation process is correct affects the precision, service life, and performance of miniature bearings. Proper installation requires both design and assembly departments to possess thorough research and extensive practical experience in handling miniature bearings. Concurrently, production operations must adhere strictly to established installation standards.

Specific operational standards typically include:

1. Thoroughly clean the bearings and associated components prior to installation.

2. Verify that the dimensions of relevant parts and the precision machining of mating components meet process requirements.

3. After installation, verify that the bearing lubricant and fundamental operating conditions are normal. 4. During micro bearing operation, monitor external conditions such as temperature, vibration, and noise.

Adherence to these standards extends micro bearing service life. Regular safety inspections enable early detection of potential issues, preventing unexpected machine failures. This ensures production schedules are met, enhancing factory productivity and efficiency.

Cleaning Methods for Miniature Bearings

The surface of miniature bearings is coated with rust-preventive oil. Before use, they must be thoroughly cleaned with clean gasoline or kerosene, then coated with clean, high-quality or high-speed high-temperature grease prior to installation and operation. The reason is straightforward: cleanliness significantly impacts the service life and vibration noise of miniature bearings. However, please note that fully sealed bearings do not require cleaning or relubrication.

Selection of Lubricating Grease for Miniature Bearings

Since grease is composed of base oil, thickener, and additives, performance varies greatly among different types and grades, with differing permissible rotational limits. Therefore, careful consideration is essential during selection.

Here, we briefly outline general principles for grease selection:

Grease performance is primarily determined by the base oil. Generally:

- Low-viscosity base oils suit low temperatures and high speeds; while high-viscosity oils suit high temperatures and heavy loads. Thickeners also affect lubrication properties, with their water resistance determining the grease's water resistance. In principle, greases from different brands should not be mixed. Even greases containing the same thickener may negatively interact due to differing additives. A common misconception when lubricating miniature bearings is applying as much grease as possible.

Relubrication of Micro Bearings

Relubrication during operation is essential for micro bearings to achieve optimal performance. Lubrication methods for micro bearings include grease lubrication and oil lubrication. The first step to ensure proper bearing function is selecting the lubrication method suited to the operating conditions and purpose. While oil lubrication offers superior lubricity when considering lubrication alone, grease lubrication simplifies the surrounding bearing structure.