Thin section bearings are a family of bearings designed from a limited number of widths and thicknesses (cross sections), with each cross section manufactured in a wide range of bore diameters. Most radial ball bearings are designed so that as the bore size increases, the width and the thickness of the bearing change proportionately. In the case of thin “ Thin section bearings help reduce total cost in a system by allowing for design efficiency over standard bearing sizes. ” section bearings the cross section remains the same as the bore diameter increases. The thin section bearing family is made up of 12 primary cross section sets ranging from 3/16" to 1" and with bore sizes ranging from 1" to over 40". The combination of a large bore diameter in proportion to the small cross section makes these parts appear "thin" in comparison to standard ball bearings. Thin section bearings are made from 52100 chrome steel and 440C stainless steel. They can also be coated with platings like thin dense chrome. Some sizes can be configured with seals or shields. Thin section bearings are also made in one of three different contact styles; radial contact, angular contact, and four point contact. These options, along with several ball and retainer types make for a diverse range of parts even among the limited cross sections of the thin section bearing family.

Engineering & Design

Thin ball bearings are highly-efficient yet compact mechanisms designed with a minimal width and external diameter. The cross-section is typically double the ball's diameter, and the difference in dimensions between the inner and outer rings is thus optimally diminished. In order to efficiently reduce the friction and vibration while the ball bearing is at work, the raceways are given a polishing finish yielding a super-smooth external surface and are loaded with high-quality balls in order to maximize performance.

These ball bearings are typically offered in both stainless steel and chrome steel. The former provides the advantage of a prominent ability to adapt to various temperatures and is resistant to oxidation, while the latter holds temperature limitations, yet is advantageous due to its external oil-coating protective finish. Both of these allow the mechanism to function in both corrosive and non-corrosive environments.

Thin ball bearings are available in a variety of models including four point contact bearings, angular contact bearings and deep groove ball bearings; in each model, the balls and cross-sections are adjusted to match the particular design while retaining the necessary thin ball bearing classifying qualities. While deep groove and four point contact ball bearings support both radial and dual-direction axial loads, angular contact ball bearings have a considerably higher support system due to their 30° contact angle and more augmented capacity (fitting a larger quantity of balls).

Advantages & Benefits

As suggested by the name, thin ball bearings were designed to provide an effective solution for the demand for ball bearings under difficult space restrictions. While thin bearings may not be utilized for heavy-duty industrial purposes, an ample range of load-capacities are offered and the ball bearings' availability in a myriad of cross-section sizes serves multiple purposes. Additionally, the light-weight design accurately reduces friction and performs with the utmost, concise precision.

Due to their thoroughly thought out design, thin ball bearings are used in a variety of fields: robotics, solar panels, radar and microwave devices, guidance systems, measuring systems, medical equipment, semiconductor equipment, the aerospace industry, among many others.

Thin section bearings help reduce total cost in a system by allowing for design efficiency over standard bearing sizes. Because thin section bearings have cross sections that don't change as bore sizes increase, there needs to be no change in the space requirements, and little change in the weight of the bearing, even as the diameter of an application increases. Especially in the case of medical equipment, airborne optical and infrared scanning equipment, and robotics, the space and weight requirements of a system are major factors in the overall design and manufacturing cost. In many cases, the price of a thin section bearing is higher than a standard bearing with a similar bore size, but application and design savings due to reduced space and lower weight decrease the total cost in the application.

we apply engineering experience and expertise to solve the world's most unique bearing challenges. The Reali-Slim® inch-standard bearing is one of the most widely used thin section bearings in the world. thin bearing solutions save weight, create space, reduce friction, increase design flexibility, and provide excellent running accuracy.

bearings are available in the industry's largest variety of materials, separator options, cross sections, internal fit up choices, lubricants, corrosion resistance options, contact angles, and precision levels. Our Reali-Slim® bearings meet the most demanding specifications in a broad range of applications including:

• Aerospace and defense

• Astronomy instrumentation

• Fixturing and workholding equipment

• Food processing equipment

• Glassworking equipment

• Index and rotary tables

• Packaging equipment

• Machine tools

• Medical systems and medical devices

• Optical scanning equipment

• Tire making equipment

• Radar, satellite and communications equipment

• Robotics

• Textile machinery

• Tube and pipe cutting machines

• Semiconductor manufacturing equipment

• Sorting equipment