The Versatile C-Flex Pivot Bearing
Featured Product from C-Flex Bearing Co., Inc.
Ultimate Precision
C-Flex Pivot Bearings are designed for precision and reliability, offering unique benefits such as being free from backlash, friction, and wear. These bearings are cost-effective, easy to assemble, and boast indefinite life expectancies with undiminished accuracy.
Cylindrical, Limited Rotational Bearing
The versatile pivot bearing can function as a simple oscillating unit or as a highly sensitive critical element, catering to diverse application needs.
- Known for its high radial and axial stiffness
- Available in low, medium, or high torsional spring rates
- Typically supports maximum deflection angles of +/-30°
- Torsional stiffness ranges from .0003 Lb-In/degree to 7.8023 Lb-In/degree
- Custom configurations available
Versatile Applications
C-Flex bearings excel in applications requiring accuracy without backlash, friction, or wear, such as gimbals and gauge sensors where precise position measurement or force sensing is critical. They are ideal for workhorse applications, supporting heavy loads for years, like in vibrating hoppers.
Lever actuators and tensioners also benefit from these bearings. Additionally, optical and magnetic read/write heads gain from the constant, predictable spring rate, which is immune to the issues of starting versus moving torque.
We offer custom designs for applications requiring greater angular travel (up to +/-50°), heavy load capacities (over 1600 lbs.), and special materials such as Hast X and Titanium. Additionally, we cater to high-volume, low-cost production needs to meet diverse customer requirements.
Sample Animations
Advantages
The advantages of cross-flexure bearings are well-documented, particularly in replacing ball bearing pivots in optomechanical applications. One notable example is the scanning mirror assembly of a mass spectrometer, where C-Flex bearings have demonstrated superior performance. These bearings support two mirrors that scan laser beams across samples for analysis. Their lubrication-free, frictionless movement is perfect for environments where lubricant outgassing could contaminate optics, and they prevent wear-related movement errors during continuous limited rotation, ensuring precise and reliable operation.
How Does It Work?
The bearing consists of two stainless steel sleeves held in position by three leaf springs on two planes, eliminating friction as the sleeves do not contact each other. The springs provide self-centering pivotal action, requiring no lubrication or maintenance. An additional sleeve option is available for central mounting, creating a double end bearing with two pivotal arms (sizes AD to JD).
Life Expectancy of C-Flex Pivot Bearings
The torsional spring rate and load capacity of C-Flex bearings is dependent upon length, width, and thickness of the internal flat spring beams. High angles of rotation require thin springs to reduce bending stress and thereby result in low torsional spring rates and correspondingly small load capacities.
Cycle Life of C-Flex Pivot Bearings
The cycle life of C-Flex bearings is based upon the fatigue limit of the materials utilized for the spring beams. Bending and load stresses are considered in determining performance ratings which will statistically result in an infinite cycle life. The flexure design is suitable for a variety of materials such as stainless steels of the martinistic or precipitation hardening variety: inconel, hastelloy, and beryllium copper among others.
Download our product catalog.
For detailed technical information on pivot bearings, including loading diagrams, life projections, bearing centershift, stiffness properties, and hysteresis
Custom Products
C-Flex Bearing Company can provide a vast array of custom alterations to our standard pivot bearings. If you have an application where a standard pivot bearing will not suffice then see if one of the alterations we offer below will suit your needs. If you have a requirement that can’t be met with the options listed here feel free to contact us and we can work with you to create a custom product just for your application.
Watch our NEW video! A short intro to our flexible couplings
C-Flex Bearing Co., Inc. is a privately owned small business located in upstate New York. We have been incorporated since 1993. Under the current administration, we have been in business since 1988 however under different names. We began manufacturing turbine components for the gas turbine industry. In 1992, we generalized into basic machine shop work. In 1997, the three companies were merged into C-Flex Bearing Co., Inc. with the focus on our one product line, the frictionless bearing or pivot.
