5 Reasons Why Your Business Needs Thrust Bearing Manufacturer？

Have you ever considered the benefits of a plastic thrust bearing?

BNL’s custom designed plastic thrust bearings offer even more with a ‘designed-for-specification’ component to meet your exact needs.

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We design thrust bearings to support different loads, speeds and specifications, by changing the type of element used to transmit movement. Our ball and roller thrust bearings use cages to ensure alignment and smooth, balanced operation. BNL specialise in integrating the raceways into mating parts, via plastic injection moulding and we supply raceways with a combination of washers, raceways and cages, or even just the cages themselves.

Benefits of BNL thrust bearings:

1. Integrated designs that save component cost and assembly time
2. Different component combinations and custom design to meet product specifications
3. Inherent noise dampening characteristics of plastics
4. No need for lubrication that could leech out
5. Lightweight for smaller motor use and power saving

What products use plastic thrust bearings?

Our thrust bearing projects range from large, robust bearings for high load support, to tiny, thin bearings for precision movement.

These include:

• Camera lenses – Very small thrust bearings used for smooth rotation of the lens. BNL’s plastic thrust bearings have integrated retention features to allow it to be fitted easily. As a result, other moving parts of the lens adjustment mechanism can circumnavigate the thrust bearing and all operational parts are harmonised.
• Floor standing fans and air-purifiers – A custom designed and integrated thrust bearing mechanism, which rotates the fan to cool or purify air throughout a room. The thrust race is designed for easy assembly into the fan and the integrated design reduces components and therefore, overall product weight. Additionally, the thrust bearing provides smooth and quiet operation without the need for lubrication.
• Tilt and rake, manual adjust steering columns – These provide a more cost effective, lighter weight equivalent to a steel bearing in the adjustment mechanism.
• High-end TV and stand adjustment – BNL’s large ball thrust bearing provides very smooth, quiet movement for a luxury brand rotating TV and stand. Manufactured in segments for easy shipping and storing of inventory,  in addition, the thrust bearing features a cage with oval pockets so balls can self-centre, plus integrated friction brakes for precise, effortless operation.

Read more about thrust bearings and what BNL plastic thrust bearings can offer you.

Do you think a plastic thrust bearing might bring advantages to your product development? We offer a machine tear down service, where we can investigate ways in which our plastic thrust bearings could benefit the performance and efficiency of your product.

Table of content

1. Applications, Structure, and Function of Thrust Bearing
2. Types of Thrust Bearings: Balls and Rollers
3. Types of Thrust Bearings: Other Types

Overview of Thrust Bearing

Thrust bearing, also known as thrust ball bearings or axial bearings, are primarily used to support or withstand axial or thrust loads. In contrast to radial bearings, which primarily handle radial loads, thrust bearings are specifically designed to handle forces parallel to the shaft's axis.

1. Applications, Structure, and Function of Thrust Bearing

The main purpose of thrust bearing is to support or control axial loads, ensuring smooth operation of rotating mechanical components. They are commonly used in applications where axial forces are present, such as automotive transmissions, clutches, fans, pumps, and compressors.

Thrust bearings typically consist of one or more axial balls or rollers housed within a bearing seat. Their design allows them to withstand high axial loads while maintaining low friction. A retainer is often present between the balls or rollers and the shaft to keep them properly positioned.

Thrust bearings come in two main types: unidirectional and bidirectional.

• Unidirectional bearings: Handle forces in a single direction.
• Bidirectional bearings: Can support forces from both directions.

Choosing the right type depends on the load requirements and the specific needs of the application.

In summary, thrust bearings are designed to handle axial loads and provide stable operation with low friction. They play a critical role in many mechanical applications, ensuring the reliable operation of rotating equipment.

 Save time and quickly find the bearing model and size you need. Inquire now.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Hangzhou Journal Bearing.

2. Types of Thrust Bearings: Balls and Rollers

Thrust Ball Bearings and Thrust Roller Bearings are common types of thrust bearings used to withstand axial or thrust loads.

Thrust needle bearings, with their smaller rolling diameters, are ideal for handling high axial loads in compact spaces. They are often found in automotive transmissions, drive shafts, and small mechanical devices. Thrust cylindrical bearings, featuring larger rollers, offer higher load capacities and are better suited for medium to large axial load applications, such as industrial equipment, metallurgical machinery, and machine tools.

While thrust roller bearings provide greater load capacity and rigidity compared to thrust ball bearings, they come with a more complex structure, making assembly and adjustments more challenging.

In summary, thrust ball bearings and thrust roller bearings are common types of thrust bearings. They are designed to withstand and support axial loads in various applications. Selecting the appropriate bearing requires considering factors such as load magnitude, speed requirements, space limitations, and structural complexity.

3. Types of Thrust Bearings: Other Types

Characteristic：

• Designed with a straightforward structure, these bearings offer high axial load capacity and exceptional rigidity.
• Although they are not ideal for high-speed applications due to differential sliding of the rollers, cylindrical roller thrust bearings feature a compact, cage-guided design.

Applications：

Rotary work tables for machine tools, powdering machine rotary tables.

The Comprehensive Guide to Needle Roller Bearings 

(2) Tapered Roller Thrust Bearings

Tapered roller thrust bearings use small tapered rollers designed to meet at a single point on the bearing axis. This precise design ensures smooth rolling and prevents skidding. These bearings are commonly used in automotive applications, such as supporting wheels, and are often paired to handle axial thrust in both directions as well as radial loads. Thanks to their larger contact area, they can carry higher thrust loads than ball bearings, though their manufacturing process is more expensive.

(3) Spherical Roller Thrust Bearings

Spherical roller thrust bearings use asymmetrical spherical rollers that roll along a spherical raceway in the washer. They’re designed to handle both radial and axial loads while compensating for shaft misalignment. Commonly used alongside radial spherical roller bearings, they stand out for having the highest load capacity among thrust bearings.

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