Bearing Centre Blog

Synchronous Drive Gear-Belts - All You Need to Know

Monday, September 17, 2018

Synchronous drive gear-belts, also known as toothed belts, timing belts, cog or cogged belts, are an essential part of many mechanical devices that require high-powered transmission. In simple terms, they are flexible belts with an inner surface that has been moulded with teeth. During operation, they are designed to run over pulleys or sprockets with matching teeth, ensuring that the belt remains in place and does not slip. ..

Avoid Over-Lubricating Your Bearings

Monday, September 10, 2018

We’ve covered the importance of lubrication in many previous posts and stressed how proper lubrication could extend the life of your bearings, prevent damaging your stainless steel fasteners, as well as how lubricant is an essential component when installing seals. What we often fail to consider is what happens when bearings are over-lubricated. Many people may believe that it’s impossible to use too much lubricant but, as with most things in life, moderation is the key to optimum functionality. ..

All About Oil Seals

Monday, September 03, 2018

Oil seals go by many names, such as shaft seals, dirt seals, grease seals, lip seals, and many other variations of these. They are essentially simple devices used in rotary shaft equipment to prevent lubricant from escaping and for excluding contaminants such as dust, dirt and water. An oil seal’s most important function, however, is that it protects every type of ball, sleeve and roller bearing in the rotating shafts. The seals also prevent the integration of two different fluids that shouldn’t mix, such as oil and water. ..

Choosing The Correct Seal For Your Bearings

Monday, August 20, 2018

Bearing seals are used to retain fluids and prevent contamination of the bearing race. The seals must create the least amount of friction and wear, allowing the bearing to perform consistently at its best. They must also provide the most amount of protection for the bearing, even under extreme pressure and environmental conditions. There are enormous amounts of seals to choose from when you’re in the market, so how do you know which type of seal is the most appropriate one for your particular bearings? ..

A Speedy Solution From SKF For Your Worn Shafts

Monday, August 13, 2018

Using the SKF Speedi-Sleeve to cover a worn area of your shaft is as simple as pushing it into position. There is no need for disassembly or machining, and no special equipment is required, barring a rubber mallet and a pair of pliers. Any special tools needed for installation are supplied. This thin-walled sleeve (0,28mm or 0.011in), developed by SKF, provides a counterface surface that is optimised for radial shaft seals, minimising costly downtime. ..

Understand The Different Types Of O-Ring Materials

Monday, August 06, 2018

We’ve covered the basic history and common uses for O-rings but if you’re in the market for these mechanical pieces, it’s always worth considering what type of material they’re made from. We know that O-rings, also called packing or toric joints, are widely used as sealing products in a variety of applications. The original O-ring design hasn’t changed much but the development of materials, particularly in the last few decades, has allowed for specialty O-rings that can withstand extreme temperatures and pressure, as well as hazardous chemicals. ..

Interesting Facts About O-Rings

Monday, July 23, 2018

O-rings are manufactured across the globe and are the most common seals used to contain fluid. They usually consist of a doughnut-shaped ring (the technical term for the shape is a toroid) made from a variety of pliable elastomers such as Neoprene or silicone. O-rings are widely used for sealing joints and connections in hydraulic and pneumatic systems, but their use extends far beyond the industrial industries. Here, we cover the O-ring’s interesting history and their vast range of applications, some that may be quite surprising. ..

The True Cost Of Using Counterfeit Bearings

Monday, July 16, 2018

Fake or counterfeit products are an enormous problem in almost every market and unfortunately this issue extends far into the industrial market, particularly with bearings. With the rise of advanced technology in third world countries, it’s becoming easier to illegally replicate a reputable manufacturer’s product, making it nearly impossible to distinguish between the fake and genuine brand of bearing. Consumers are unwittingly being conned into buying inferior products and the results can be disastrous. ..

All You Need To Know About Pneumatic Valves

Monday, July 09, 2018

Pneumatic valves control the pressure, flow rate, direction, and amount of air that moves through a pneumatic system. Countless industrial applications depend on pneumatic systems to control their power source, and while the medium in the system is a fluid (as in a hydraulic system), the way in which it is controlled and delivered is different. There are also several types of pneumatic valves that can be used to control the pressure and flow of fluid. The most common are pressure relief valves, flow control and directional control valves. ..

Signs That Your Hydraulic Hose Needs Replacing

Monday, June 25, 2018

As we’ve covered before, there is no simple way to determine how long your hydraulic hose is going to last – there are just too many variables that could influence its lifespan. The general rule is that hoses and fittings should be replaced every 1-2 years but that is highly dependent on the quality of the products and under what conditions they are being used. The shelf life of a rubber hose is around ten years (check the manufacturing date on the lay-line) but even that is negotiable when you take into account how the hose has been stored and what kind of environment it has been exposed to. ..