6 Mechanical Linkage Ball Joint Manufacturers in 2024
This section provides an overview for mechanical linkage ball joints as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 6 mechanical linkage ball joint manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked mechanical linkage ball joint companies as of November, 2024: 1.J.W. Winco, Inc., 2.igus, inc., 3.DRiV Incorporateda.
Table of Contents
What Is a Ball Joint Linkage?
Ball joint linkages are spherical bearings that include a stud.
These components are also known as ball joints, rod ends, rod-end bearings, spherical rod ends, and spherical plain bearings.
Uses of Ball Joint Linkages
Ball joint linkages, serving as spherical sliding bearings, feature a minimal clearance at the ball portion for smooth motion. They facilitate link motion mechanisms to connect and transmit motion between components that exhibit rotational or oscillating movements.
Applications include machine tools, textile machinery, packaging machinery, robots, and other scenarios requiring large oscillating angles. Additional uses include aircraft, construction and civil engineering machinery such as tractors, agricultural machinery like combine harvesters, and shield machines for tunnel excavation.
Oil-free variants are extensively used in food-related machinery. Automobile suspensions and steering systems are common applications as well.
Principle of Ball Joint Linkages
Ball joint linkages consist of a shank with a ball and a holder that secures the ball, supporting rotational or oscillating motions of the shank with spherical surfaces in contact. This configuration functions as a spherical plain bearing.
The holder end, which can have male or female threading, is attached to the end of a connecting rod or similar component. It serves to fasten or connect two parts, allowing relative displacement through a spherical sliding structure, providing a degree of freedom in rotation or tilt.
The distance and angle of the linkage mechanism can be adjusted by the threaded depth of the ball joint linkage and connecting rod.
Types of Ball Joint Linkages
1. Classification by Shank Orientation
Ball joint linkages feature a threaded shank welded to the ball.
- In-line: Shank and holder are coaxial.
- Angle: Shank and holder are perpendicular.
These self-aligning spherical plain bearings allow for tilting, pivoting, low-torque rotation, and smooth power transmission across a wide range of automation equipment.
2. Classification by Load Direction
The axial direction of the ball joint linkage's shank experiences push load against the holder and pull load away from it. The suitability of a ball joint linkage for these load directions varies as shown below.
| Type of Ball Joint Linkage | Axial Direction | Radial Direction |
| In-line | × | 〇 |
| Angle | 〇 | × |
〇: Applicable ×: Not applicable
3. Classification by Material and Manufacturing Method
The ball joint linkage utilizes a high-precision steel ball welded to a threaded steel shank. The holder material is often a high-strength aluminum alloy for wear resistance and lightweight properties.
The spherical part of the holder is formed by encasing the ball during die casting and welding the shank and ball together. This design ensures full contact between the ball and holder for spherical transfer and smooth motion with minimal gap.
4. Lubrication
Ball joint linkages are crafted from finely machined, wear-resistant materials to ensure smooth movement. Despite this, metal-to-metal contact inevitably leads to wear, mitigated by lubrication with grease or similar substances for sustained operation and wear resistance. The shank area of the holder is protected with a rubber boot to prevent the ingress of dust and water, making it suitable for outdoor use.
List of 6 Mechanical Linkage Ball Joint Manufacturers
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
- Default
- Company Size: largest first
- Year Founded: oldest first
- Year Founded: earliest first
Sort by Area
- United States of America
- Japan
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igus, inc.
Axial Ball and Socket Joints
Manufacturer Overview
igus, Inc., established in 1964 and headquartered in Cologne, Germany, is a manufacturer and distributor of complex technical polymer components. The company offers a range of products including plastic plain bearings, flexible cables, and energy chains. Additionally, it also provides connectors, robotic components, and 3D-printed products. These products find applications in various areas such as automation and robotics, automotive, and gaming. It is ISO 9001:2015 certified and has been awarded with the “NRW - Economy in Transition” competition award and the Rhineland Business Prize in the “Sustainability” category.
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J.W. Winco, Inc.
Threaded ball joint linkages
Manufacturer Overview
J.W. Winco was originally founded as Ganter in 1894 in Germany. Winco specializes in parts manufacturing. Parts offerings the operating parts segment including handles, adjusting, and positioning parts; clamping parts segment featuring tensioning, clamping, switching, and levers; and finally the machine parts segment with indexing, locking, mounting, connecting elements, guides, spindles, rollers, magnets, casters, and wheels. Winco’s complete catalog contains over 75,000 standard parts. Winco is also ISO 9001 certified. Winco offers free CAD downloads and technical documentation for many arts.
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THK U.K.
Link Ball
Manufacturer Overview
THK Co., Ltd. was incorporated in 1946 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. THK is a manufacturer and supplier of machine components such as linear motion components for customers globally. THK’s products are used in many industries including electronics, aerospace, industrial robots, and precision instruments. THK’s primary product categories are Linear Motion, Feed Screw, Rotation, Custom Assemblies, and Seismic Isolation. Linear Motion products assist in linear motion and transportation. They include linear motion actuators, guides, and rollers. Feed screws include ball screws, screw nuts, and change nuts. Seismic Isolation includes both large systems and small guides.
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DRiV Incorporateda
Ball Joints
Manufacturer Overview
MOOG, founded in 1919 and headquartered in St. Louis, is a manufacturer of steering and suspension parts. The company provides a diverse and extensive product catalog, featuring driveline components, wheel-end parts, as well as steering and suspension solutions. Beyond the product offerings, it offers valuable services including training, diagnosis of parts, and independent testing. The product line, known as "problem solver" products, is designed to address common issues in the automotive sector.
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Winkler Blastgates
Ball Joints
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Cablecraft
Ball Joints
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Mechanical Linkage Ball Joint Manufacturer Ranking
*Including some distributors, etc.Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | J.W. Winco, Inc. |
23.2%
|
| 2 | igus, inc. |
22.5%
|
| 3 | DRiV Incorporateda |
15.9%
|
| 4 | Winkler Blastgates |
15.2%
|
| 5 | THK U.K. |
12.6%
|
| 6 | Cablecraft |
10.6%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the mechanical linkage ball joint page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
- THK U.K.: 13,502
Newly Established Company
- THK U.K.: 1971 (53 years ago)
- igus, inc.: 1964 (60 years ago)
- Cablecraft: 1949 (75 years ago)
Company with a History
- Cablecraft: 1949 (75 years ago)
- igus, inc.: 1964 (60 years ago)
- THK U.K.: 1971 (53 years ago)
Mechanical Linkage Ball Joint Manufacturers in United States
*Including some distributors, etc.
Global Distribution of Mechanical Linkage Ball Joint Manufacturers by Country
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
United States of America
|
2 | 66.7% |
Japan
|
1 | 33.3% |
