This section provides an overview for small ball bearings as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 10 small ball bearings manufacturers and their company rankings.
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Small ball bearings, also called miniature bearings, are small bearings with an outside diameter of less than 9 mm or an inside diameter of less than 10 mm and an outside diameter of 9 mm or more. A bearing is a component used to facilitate smooth rotation of an object. Its main roles are to reduce friction, to adjust the rotating shaft, and to prevent damage to the parts that support rotation. They are used in almost all machinery that has a rotating shaft and are sometimes called the "bread of industry" because of their importance.
Demand for small ball bearings (miniature bearings) is rapidly increasing in today's world, where smaller, lighter, and thinner bearings are strongly required in all industrial fields. In particular, the recent development of information equipment and the expansion of demand for such equipment have created a need for high-quality miniature bearings. In our daily lives, small ball bearings are used in fishing reels, mini 4-wheel drives, and personal computer parts. In slightly larger products, they are used for miniaturization of medical equipment and various measuring machines.
Small ball bearings are miniaturized versions of bearings, and their principle of operation is the same as that of general bearings.
The main role of a bearing is to reduce friction during rotation. The theory behind how their friction is reduced lies in the rolling motion of the "rolling elements" built into the bearing.
Rolling elements are small balls or rollers (cylindrical rather than spherical). The rolling elements roll together to assist in rotation and, as a result, reduce friction during rotation.
Next, bearings that use sliding are explained. In this type of bearing, there is no rolling element, and instead, a material with good sliding properties, such as resin, is used in the bearing to reduce friction. Compared to rolling bearings, plain bearings have the advantages of a simpler structure and are less prone to breakage.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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The Timken Company (Timken) was founded in 1899 and is headquartered in North Canton, Ohio. Timken designs, manufactures, and manages engineered bearings and industrial motion products worldwide. Timken operates in two segments, Mobile Industries and Process Industries. The Mobile Industries segment’s portfolio includes bearings, seals, and lubrication devices and systems. The Process Industries segment provides industrial bearings and assemblies; industrial motion components, such as gears and gearboxes; and linear motion products, couplings, seals, lubricants, chains, belts, and related products and services to OEMs and end users in various industries.
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