Bearings specialist NSK says it is meeting the demands of electric motor manufacturers and users for low torque, low noise, longer-life bearings through a programme focusing on innovative materials, production techniques and lubrication technologies.
According to a NSK spokesperson, the project has already resulted in bearings delivering a 30% improvement in efficiency for the firm's standard deep-groove ball bearings, and 47% for domestic appliance bearings, compared to conventional ball bearings.
NSK has achieved these improvements by working with steel makers to improve the manufacturing process, reducing impurities and achieving a decrease in AI2O3 alumina oxides.
The resulting long-life Z Steel is now standard material for NSK's ball bearings, offering what the company terms "significantly extended service life when compared to conventional vacuum degassed steel".
If fact, the claim is an 80% improvement in bearing life, and states that its Z steel also benefits from more uniform response to heat treatment, which improves hardness and wear resistance.
The firm also says that these improvements have led to better surface optimisation processes, further reducing friction and wear characteristics.
The raceways of NSK's ball bearings are also now specially honed to reduce operating friction and to noise. In addition, better lubricant distribution that results from this operation also ensures longer operating life, claims NSK.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson also points to the pressed steel cages used on NSK's bearings, which have close coined pockets and tightly controlled clearances, again to minimise friction and ensure even distribution of lubricant.
And he adds that NSK has also achieved incremental advances in efficiency through improved low-torque seals and lubricants - in particular, greases.
