Precision balls come in many materials

Barden has introduced a new service for the sale of precision balls, as used in its own high quality super precision bearings. Critical to the accuracy and reliability of super precision bearings, precision balls are also used widely in high precision instruments, medical equipment, linear guideways, mechatronic equipment, dental drills and even eye scanners. Barden supplies its high precision balls in a wide variety of materials including chromium alloy steel, stainless steel, ceramics, glass, and also M50 material for jet engine applications. The balls are produced in a process that focuses on manufacturing excellence and strict quality control. The process integrates advanced technology, measurement and testing equipment, and skilled staff to ensure consistency in manufacture. 'Selecting the right ball material and the right manufacturing process are critical to delivering the high levels of performance and life required by users of precision rolling elements', says Trevor Morris of Barden: 'The balls we supply are manufactured to meet exacting standards for quality and reliability that exceed industry norms'. 'This level of precision is attainable only by carefully monitoring and controlling a wide range of manufacturing and process variables'. 'The balls are measured against the same stringent criteria that the inner and outer rings of our precision bearings are subjected to'. 'The result is a product that excels in accuracy, wear life and endurance'. The range of precision balls supplied by Barden takes account of the trend in modern machines to higher speeds and reduced weight. These requirements are best met by the use of ceramic balls: silicon nitride elements that are 2.5 times lighter than steel. The use of these balls is not limited to the high-speed range. They also offer considerable advantages even at lower speeds in applications where conditions of mixed friction are likely to occur. This is because the tribological characteristics of ceramic balls are far superior to steel balls. Furthermore, the heat expansion coefficient of ceramic balls is 3.6 times lower. As a result, they expand much less when in operation than steel balls.