Solve Your Bearing-Mount Problems

Design engineers want to reduce costs and improve quality and performance. Choosing the most economical ball bearings for a job is one way to start. Surprisingly these high-volume low-cost ball bearings are precision bearings. The low cost of these ball bearings is achieved by dedicated automated production machinery. Many ball bearing users would like to use economical precision ball bearings, but have trouble meeting recommended housing bore tolerances.

Bearing manufacturers offer a selection of 15 different housing sixes for their ball bearings! The tolerances on the housing range form .0039mm (.00015 inch) to .025mm (.001 inch). The housing diameter selections are an attempt to accommodate each and every application. Too large a housing can cause sloppiness and bearing rotation in the housing. Too small a housing bores can cause precision bearings to preload and lock up. The bottom line is that on the average you will be required to machine (grind) a .012mm (.0005 inch) housing bore. In many cases it just isn't practical or economical to machine the housing to bearing manufacturer's recommendations. A Tolerance Ring can be a more practical alternative! This is where USA Tolerance Rings enters the picture.

Tolerance Rings allow the use of a low cost precision ball bearing such as 607, 608, 6000, 6001, 6201, 6202, 6203, 6204, R3A, R4.

1. In many applications using a tolerance ring will allow housing diameter variations of .08 mm (.003) to .10 mm (.004 inch) 2. Tolerance rings can reduce bearing vibration and improve NVH characteristics 3. Tolerance Rings allow for ease of assembly and removal 4. Tolerance Rings can eliminate fretting corrosion 5. Tolerance Rings can be used in as cast plastic and steel housings 6. Tolerance Rings can accommodate egg shaped out of round housings 7. Tolerance Rings can accommodate ½ degree up to 3 degrees of misalignment 8. Tolerance Rings provide a snug fit in the housing without the risk of bearing lockup.