Radialandaxialdirection

Once up and running, an automated lubrication system requires only periodic checks to insure reservoirs are full and that the system is online and running properly. Automated lubrication save time, energy, and reduce safety concerns that come with periodic maintenance.

GGB seeks out collaborative, long-term relationships with each one of our customers. Our diverse expertise gives us a deep understanding of the challenges you face.  When you partner with us early, our GGB engineering team is able to review your assemblies and make sure both the bearing and surrounding components are optimized for performance and cost-effectiveness.

Bimetal and metal bearings offer excellent corrosion resistance in industrial outdoor applications and in water, marine and offshore environments. GGB offers a broad range of sizes, forms and materials in monometallic and bimetallic bearings.

Registered customers have online access to shop our portfolio of fluids, auto parts, shop supplies, and small equipment.

Axialandradialalignment

In addition, GGB-MEGALIFE® XT Thrust Washer with PTFE tape liner is offered as a fiber reinforced composite PTFE thrust washer for heavy axial load applications that also require a solution with good chemical resistance.

At GGB, we aren’t afraid to take risks for our customers. We are passionate about the work we do and believe that same passion contributes to the level of innovation that can enhance human potential. We take pride in working closely with customers in the early stage of a design to think broadly and boldly, and to expand beyond traditional surface engineered solutions. We offer reliable partnerships based on trust, compassion, determination, collaboration and respect.

A grease gun is cheap and is the go-to lubrication tool of choice for most shops. However, the grease gun only lubricates on a set schedule, and even a weekly lubrication schedule may not be sufficient for some bearings. Bearings in heavy use can “wear out” lubricant in a short period of time and require more frequent application of lubricant.

GGB's Engineered Plastic Polymer bearings provide excellent wear resistance and low friction in both dry and lubricated operating conditions over a wide range of applications. Engineered plastic bearings are made from thermoplastic bearing material processed by injection moulding. This production method enables us to produce unlimited dimensions in accordance to our standard, and also parts with special designs and features.

Radial ball bearings are designed to withstand forces that are perpendicular to the direction of the shaft, or radial loads. Radial bearings are the most common type.

Axial vs radialplay

Lube-Tech’s expert guidance and innovative solutions make us a trusted partner for light-duty, heavy-duty, industrial, and small engine industries.

Finally, the system requires adequate tubing and fittings to handle the type of lubricant and pressure being used in the system, and the tubing feeds injectors which are placed at the lubrication site to dispense the lubricant. It is important to note that fluid will always choose the path of least resistance, so using individual lines for each lubrication point is critical. Using a T fitting is not an option when constructing an automated lubrication system.

Machine lubrication often introduces safety concerns. Even when lock out/tag out procedures are followed, maintenance workers are often asked to enter small or cramped spaces to access parts. And with less consistent lubrication, parts replacement increases, therefore increasing the possibility of work-related injury. Finally, no one wants to shut a running machine down, so this can spread a lubrication schedule out beyond the limits of the lubricant’s lifespan.

An automated lubrication system can apply a smaller amount of lubricant on a more frequent basis, keeping lubricant fresh and effective. It can also reduce down time since the machine is being lubricated while its running. Lubricating a bearing while it is running is ideal, since the lubricant flows throughout the moving parts.

More than half of bearing failures are the result of improper lubrication. Shops know that bearing replacement can be costly, and lost production time can multiply those costs. The majority of bearings are lubricated manually, which typically means the machine is stopped and a worker is physically applying grease, resulting in machine down time and often less than ideal lubrication application. Automated lubrication systems can take the guesswork out of machine maintenance, decreasing down time and increasing a shop’s bottom line.

Axial vs radialcapacitor

For applications with high radial loads and the possibility of light axial loads, GGB Metal-Polymer Flanged Bearings are recommended.

The excellent low friction and high wear resistance performance of GGB metal-polymer bearings make them ideal for hundreds of applications in numerous and diverse industries. Depending upon application requirements, metal-polymer composite bearings can be produced in many shapes and sizes.

GGB has been putting the world in motion for over 120 years with industry-leading tribological bearings, coatings and assemblies. From Polymer Coatings and Metal-Polymer bearings to Fiber Reinforced Composite bearings and self-aligning shaft bearing assemblies, our solutions are specifically designed to reduce friction and optimize performance and durability.

GGB thrust washers and flanged thrust washers are offered for applications with heavy axial loads. These washers are available as a special form of our popular plain bearings including DP4® and DU® self-lubricating bearing materials.

Tribology is the science of wear, friction and lubrication, and encompasses how interacting surfaces and other tribo-elements behave in relative motion in natural and artificial systems. This includes bearing design and lubrication.

There’s also an advantage to lubricating the part in small doses vs. periodic large doses such as less wasted lubricant and more consistent lubricant flow throughout the part. With more consistent lubrication, machines run more efficiently, more precisely, and save energy.

Axial vs radialpump

GGB's diverse polymer coating solutions encompass some of the most state-of-the-art coating technologies available. Our TriboShield®  product line includes seven standard formulations that cover the full spectrum of mechanical, thermal and chemical capabilities offered by today's coating materials. They can also be applied to nearly any surface, regardless of shape or material, making their potential almost endless. And when it comes to working with and enhancing the performance of your existing bearing and polymer coatings solutions, our TriboMate product line is specifically designed to be paired up— all leading to enhanced performance.

Automated lubrication systems can be as simple or as complex as needed, and additional parts such as sensors, filters, and check valves can also be integrated into an automated lubrication system, but each system will have unique demands.

An automated lubrication system such as those Graco offers consists of a metering device, pump, controller, and injectors. The metering device is the heart of the system and controls how much lubricant is flowing to the given part. A pump supplies lubricant to the metering device, and the pump is run by a controller that is programmed for when and how often the machine receives lubricant.

GGB cylindrical bearings, with their high load capacity, are designed to support large radial loads. Our Fiber Reinforced Composite Bearings are especially apt for these applications with load capacities up to 415MPa.

Axialandradialload bearing

Axial vs radialmeasurement

GGB’s TriboU is intended to provide the ​working engineer, who may or may not be a ​user of GGB’s surface engineered solutions, to ​understand and implement basic tribological ​concepts in the design, manufacture and ​use of industrial equipment.

Axial bearings, or thrust bearings, are designed to withstand force in the same direction as the shaft. This is called an axial load, or thrust load.

GGB tribological solutions move the industrial world one step closer to the future. Our products are used in tens of thousands of critical applications every day—around the planet. Our goal is to provide reliable, maintenance-free surface solutions for almost any application—no matter where those demands take our products.

In some applications, ceramic bearings, a type of radial bearing, are used to withstand high rotational speeds. The rolling elements are ceramic, which is significantly lighter than steel. This reduces the centrifugal force within ceramic bearings at high speeds.

... some high precision bearings are specially manufactured to withstand support loads, or bearing loads, in various directions. Two examples are radial loads and axial loads, or thrust loads.GGB offers a range of plain bearing solutions that are able to support radial loads, axial loads, or both types of loads.

Automated lubrication was first developed for use on steam engines in 1860. These first automated lubricators were imprecise, as they used steam pressure to dispense lubricant. Steam-pressure lubricators were replaced at the turn of the century by more consistent mechanical lubricators, but these only lubricated at a set rate. Again, not ideal.

Lube-Tech’s extensive product & service portfolio, along with our private label capabilities, help to accelerate the performance of your business.

According to Dan Jensen, Graco Industrial Lubrication Equipment Global Product Manager, customers utilizing automatic greasing units have seen an increase in machine up time due to the greasing system providing the proper amount of grease to the lubrication points. This ultimately has increased end users bottom line earnings and allowed their employees to focus their efforts on tasks other than machine greasing.

Modern automatic lubrication has moved into the digital age, and companies such as Graco, headquartered in Minneapolis, offers complete systems with programmable controllers that run on a schedule tailored for each unique application. Unlike their crude predecessors, automated systems can add lubricant on a precise schedule, applying only what is necessary for optimal performance.

Some ball bearings are able to withstand a radial and axial load applied on the shaft, these combined axial/radial load bearings are achieved by axial angular contact. The angle of these axial radial bearings allows the axial load and the radial load to be distributed more evenly along the axial angular contact ball bearing.

Lube-Tech provides the knowledge and support your business needs to succeed with our expert articles, product information, and data sheets.

This story originally appeared in the May/June 2018 issue of Precision Manufacturing, the Journal of the Minnesota Precision Manufacturing Association (MPMA).

Axial vs radialmovement

GGB's Fiber Reinforced Composite products typically consists of a filament-wound, fiberglass-impregnated, epoxy backing with a variety of low-friction wear-resistant bearing linings. These self-lubricating fiber reinforced composite bearings are particularly effective in applications where the relative motion is not sufficient to promote circulation of the oil or grease used with more conventional bearings. GGB Fiber Reinforced Composite bearings are available as bushes, plates, bearing segments and special forms, depending on the particular material type.

Engineered as a solution to conquer misalignment reduction when high demands are placed on bearings, GGB's UNI, MINI and EXALIGN® self-aligning shaft bearing assemblies offer improved equipment performance under standard bearing assemblies by reducing stress and friction. Offering superior performance in a wide variety of applications, GGB's self-aligning assemblies are available in both standard and custom configurations.