Case studies

Low-Torque Plastic Bearing with Impeller for Small-Volume Liquid Measurement

This bearing is used in equipment designed to measure liquid flow. Previously, the impeller was mounted onto a metal bearing. However, due to concerns about corrosion caused by the liquid, there was a customer request to replace the bearing component with a plastic version. As the liquid is alkaline and a certain level of rigidity is required due to the small diameter, PEEK was selected for its high stiffness and excellent resistance to alkaline environments. In addition, we proposed integrating the impeller and bearing into a single component to reduce the number of parts. As demonstrated in this case, we are capable of manufacturing bearings in non-standard shapes and sizes.[…..]

Chemically Resistant Threaded Plastic Bearings for Use in Hydrofluoric Acid Environments

This case study introduces bearings used in transfer carriers designed for operation in hydrofluoric acid environments. This project involved selecting suitable bearings for a transport system operating in a chemical environment using hydrofluoric acid (HF). Hydrofluoric acid is an extremely aggressive chemical that corrodes many metals, making conventional metal bearings unsuitable due to corrosion and durability issues. For this reason, the use of chemically resistant plastic bearings was a fundamental requirement. Material selection for hydrofluoric acid-resistant bearings Materials suitable for use in HF environments include: PCTFE (Polychlorotrifluoroethylene) PPS (Polyphenylene sulfide) PP (Polypropylene) Rigid PVC In chemical environments, selecting the appropriate bearing material is critical and depends on factors such as[…..]

Grease-Free High-Temperature Plastic Bearings for Furnace Applications (Up to 350 °C)

This bearing is used in components located near industrial furnaces. Since any contact with oil would be unacceptable, metal bearings could not be used. Therefore, a grease-free bearing solution with high temperature resistance was required. As the bearing is exposed to hot air of approximately 250°C near the furnace, it was determined that even high-performance materials such as PEEK might not be sufficient. For this reason, a carbon bearing with heat resistance up to 350°C was proposed. This bearing can operate without lubrication, preventing contamination of the product. In conventional carbon bearings, the cage cannot be made of carbon and is therefore typically manufactured from plastic. However, plastic cages have[…..]

Double-Row Full-Ball Plastic Bearing (Contamination Countermeasure)

Below is an introduction to a bearing that has been adopted for use in a conveyor system. This product was considered for use in equipment where sterilization is performed using high-temperature cleaning showers or chemical agents. In such harsh environments, components contained in tap water—such as calcium, magnesium, and silica—tend to crystallize as the water dries and easily adhere to the bearing surfaces. To facilitate the cleaning and removal of these crystallized contaminants, we proposed a full-ball design without a cage. This structure allows foreign matter to be more easily flushed out during cleaning. However, because the balls in a full-ball design are in direct contact with one another, its[…..]

Self-Aligning Bearings for Chemical Liquid Environments

For use in chemical liquids or environments (Caustic Soda, Sulfuric Acid, Boric Acid / Special Shapes / Special Combinations) exposed to chemicals, we typically supply bearings in which the race rings and cage are made of plastic, while the balls are made of ceramic. Plastic Bearings for Cleaning with Hydrofluoric Acid Phosphoric Acid Resistant Plastic Bearing In such environments, plastic bearings—ranging from standard sizes to special shapes—can generally be used without issue. In this article, however, we introduce a self-aligning bearing with a special geometry and a special material combination. Plastic self-aligning ball bearings have a significantly lower load capacity compared with metal self-aligning ball bearings. Therefore, when higher loads[…..]

Plastic Pillow Block Bearings Used in Seedling Tray Washing Machines

In seedling tray washing processes, components are used in harsh environments involving a combination of water and mud. With conventional metal pillow block bearings, the following issues were encountered: Occurrence of rust Wear of sliding surfaces Abnormal noise and frequent lubrication requirements By adopting our UKB plastic pillow block, the following improvements were achieved: Maintenance-free operation Significant reduction in wear In this application, a sleeve-less design was used due to the small shaft diameter. In muddy or dirty water environments, bearings are typically provided with grooves to allow contaminants to be discharged. For grooved plastic bushings, please refer to the following application example: ▶Pillow Block Bearings for Conveyor Rollers in[…..]

Conductive-Grade Plastic Bearings (Electrostatic / Lightweight)

Our bearings were used as test components for electrostatic motor parts. Although electrical insulation is generally required in such applications, there was a specific request to allow electrostatic charges to be partially dissipated from the shaft to the outer ring, while also reducing weight. Based on this requirement, we were asked whether it would be possible to manufacture the bearing from a conductive plastic material. As the requested dimensions were not a standard size, the bearing was manufactured according to the customer’s specified dimensions. Since we manufacture our bearings using machining processes, we often use rod or pipe stock as raw materials. Therefore, even when electrical conductivity is required—as in[…..]

Small-Diameter Plastic Ball Bearings (φ5 / Miniature)

The photo shows an ultra-miniature bearing with dimensions of φ5×φ2×3L which was considered for use in a certain medical device project. When we initially discussed the project, we explained that due to the extremely small diameter, it would be difficult to determine whether production was feasible without first attempting it. However, after prototyping in-house, we found that it was indeed possible to manufacture. Due to the lack of space to insert a retainer, the design uses a full ball configuration. In medical equipment, not only are cleaning and sterilization essential, but there is also the possibility of blood exposure, which can lead to corrosion — making the use of metal[…..]

Plastic Bearings with External Thread (Tapping) Specification

These are bearings with tapped threads on the outer diameter. We received an inquiry from overseas regarding the use of plastic bearings for a new development project. Since the parts would be exposed to or submerged in salt water, metal bearings could not be used. The surrounding components also seemed to be designed using plastic for the same environmental reasons. The reason for tapping the outer diameter was that the customer wanted to bond and fix the bearing to the plastic housing. In general, plastic is non-adhesive, so most materials (except for some, like phenolic resin) cannot be bonded effectively. (Strictly speaking, bonding is not entirely impossible — the surfaces[…..]

Plastic Bearings for Transporting Hoop Materials (Coil Materials)

This product is a specially shaped bearing with a flat groove on the outer diameter and an extended inner ring on one side. The groove shape can be custom-made to match the transported material. Can be used without collars when multiple bearings are installed in parallel. Excellent chemical resistance allows usage even in highly corrosive chemical solutions. The outer diameter section features a flat groove, enabling a custom-made design tailored to the size of thin metal sheets (hoop materials). This flat groove ensures precise guidance of the transported material, preventing scratches and damage. In addition to thin metal sheets (hoop materials), various groove shapes such as V-grooves and R-grooves can[…..]

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