• Access to many unique sizes of precision balls
• Ability to adapt to the unpredictable
• Shorter lead times
• Low minimum batch requirement
• Less warehouse space needed
• No leftover parts
• Cost-effective and efficient

Precision balls play a crucial role in automotive fluid control, ensuring efficiency, reliability, and precision in fuel injection, braking, and transmission systems. In this video, we explore how these tiny but powerful components contribute to smoother vehicle operation and enhanced performance. (read more)

Hartford supplies many components to the electric vehicle market. From battery to fuse components, the EV market makes up a large portion of Hartford’s business. Contact us today to see how we can provide precision components to your next electric vehicle program. (read more)

Plastic bearings from Hartford Technologies are often an easy, “drop-in” replacement for bronze, steel and stainless steel bearings. These plastic bearings offer significant advantages for the user.

Plastic bearings are lighter in weight, non-magnetic, and have a low coefficient of friction which means it generates less heat. Plastic bearings often allow more flexible... (read more)

The Importance of Bearing Assemblies in Ensuring Automotive Safety (read more)

Should You Use Ballizing for Your Metalworking Processes? (read more)

Discover the critical role of clean ball bearings in medical devices. From material selection to advanced sterilization techniques, cleanliness is key to patient safety. Learn more about the importance of sterile ball bearings in healthcare. (read more)

By incorporating these five tips into your maintenance practices, you can effectively prevent the havoc of sudden machine shutdowns caused by bearing failure. (read more)

The function of a bearing cage (also known as a separator or a retainer) is to hold rolling elements in proper orientation so they don’t group together.

Bearing cages are produced in a wide variety of materials and for a wide variety of manufacturing processes.

Materials for Bearing Cages:

• Molded plastic – polyamide (nylon), acetal (de...

Balls sleeves typically consist of a housing (sleeve). The ball sleeve is either molded plastic or stamped metal, plus steel balls.

The function of the ball sleeve is to hold the balls in relative orientation (so they don’t bunch up together.) With ball sleeves, the pocket design is critical for functionality. The balls/rollers must be easily assembled but also securely reta... (read more)

What Factors Should Be Considered When Ballizing? (read more)

Ball and roller retainer assemblies typically consists of a retainer, which is either molded plastic or stamped metal, plus rolling elements (balls, rollers, or both).

The function of the retainer is to hold the balls/rollers in relative orientation (so they don’t bunch up together.) The pocket design is critical. The balls and rollers must be easily assembled, but also be s... (read more)

Hartford Technologies’ Thrust Bearings are used where axial loads are exerted from either direction.

Key thrust bearing components include retainer or cage and rolling elements (balls or rollers). In many thrust bearings, two hardened steel washers function as raceways and are also part of the bearing. Sometimes this collection of parts is pre-assembled and in other applicat... (read more)

Hartford Technologies manufactures cage needle roller bearings for a wide variety of end use applications.

Cage needle bearings consist of cylindrical needle rollers assembled into a cage or retainer. The cage/retainer may be molded plastic. Common materials include polyamide (nylon), acetal (delrin) or other engineered plastics. Alternately, the cage/retainer may be made from low... (read more)

Hartford Technologies is a leading worldwide manufacturer of Drawn Cup Needle Roller Bearings.

These bearings typically consist of three types of components. The first is a “cup”, which is formed from flat sheet stock via metal stamping and forming operations into a housing which functions as an outer race. In addition to the cup, there is a cage or separator which is... (read more)

A needle roller bearing uses needle rollers, rather than balls, as its rolling elements. Sometimes the simpler term roller bearing or needle bearing is used instead. The term “needle” typically implies that the length is several times greater than the diameter.

Needle bearings have the advantage of greater load carrying capability vs. ball bearings. Theoretical contact... (read more)

Tapered rollers are used as rolling elements in tapered roller bearings. These bearings are selected when the bearing must provide load carrying capability in both radial and axial directions.

Tapered rollers are blanked (given their rough overall shape) using a cold-heading process. Several subsequent operations including specialized grinding produce parts with precision toleranc... (read more)

Special End Rollers have custom end configurations to meet specific application or assembly needs.

The special end configurations include flat, spherical, crowned, tapered and cone shaped. Applications for special end rollers are quite varied and include the industrial, automotive and aerospace industries.

Size Ranges

• Diameter: .031″ to 1.000&P...

Hartford Technologies can design and manufacture cage bearings for your application in materials ranging from stamped steel to molded engineered plastics.

We have a substantial base of experience with manufacturing custom cage bearings for high speed, sliding/rolling applications. Sliding applications include seat tracks, actuators, and drawer slides.

Hartford Technologies... (read more)

Hartford Technologies offers an extensive array of custom precision rollers for applications where tight tolerances or custom shapes are required.

One of Hartford Technologies’ strengths is unique cold-heading technology for the manufacturing of custom precision rollers without costly secondary operations. In high-volume applications, this produces significant cost sa... (read more)

Pin is slightly larger than the application’s envelope hole. Considerable force required in assembly process. Used as a permanent method of fixture and not meant to be removed.

Standard Materials

Bearing Grade Chrome Steel
300 Series Stainless Steels, Including: 302 / 303 / 304 / 18-8 / 316
400 Series Stainless Steels, Including: 416 / 420 / 440 / 440C

A (read more)

Very little friction when inserted into application envelope. Loose fitting that can be assembled by hand and removed if necessary. Slight wobble may be experienced between joining parts. Parts should be able to turn and move freely within application.

Standard Materials

Bearing Grade Chrome Steel
300 Series Stainless Steels, Including: 302 / 303 / 304 / 18-8 / 316
... (read more)

Precision balls are used most notably in the health and beauty or pharmaceutical industries, in control-flow applicators for applying lotions, creams or perfumes. Hartford Technologies manufacturers polypropylene (PP), high density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic, or glass balls that are inert to most health and beauty solutions or creams.

Overview of Roll-on Applications

These... (read more)

A detent is a mechanical device that prevents motion until it has been released.

Another name for a detent pin is a quick release pin. These pins are often used in alignment / fastening / joining applications.

Overview of Detent Pins

Precision balls are used as part of a detent pin assembly, which mainly consists of a pin, a ball and a spring. The spring-loaded ball... (read more)

Plastic Balls We manufacture industrial plastic balls for various applications and consumer products, including polypropylene balls, teflon balls, and nylon balls.

Low-load applications and flow control devices use industrial plastic balls. Colored plastic balls are used for identification purposes in many medical applications. Also, plastic balls offer excellent fatigue and corr... (read more)

Hartford remains committed to responsible manufacturing as evidenced by our ISO 9001 and 14001 certifications and expert engineers.

Overview of Quick Disconnect Fittings

Quick disconnect fittings are used to provide fast and easy connection and disconnection of fluid or air lines. These fittings are also known as quick connects or quick release couplings. They are used to r... (read more)

Precision balls are widely used to permanently plug holes in manufactured parts where holes have to be drilled in the workpiece to create flow channels. The ball can be from a variety of materials which are referenced below. The ball is press-fit in the hole such that it creates a permanent seal. Typically the balls are Grade 50 or better as the consistency of the diameter and roundness... (read more)

Hartford Technologies can provide simple modifications to some of our standard balls.
Overview of Modified / Drilled Balls

Modified/drilled balls come in all sizes and materials. Typical modifications include a drilled thru-hole, threaded thru-hole, flat, or slot. Modified/drilled balls are used in valve or flow control applications, as well as other industrial... (read more)

Precision balls are used in containers that meter or dispense products such as: airless spray pumps, lotion pumps, atomizers, or continuous or metered aerosol cans. Hartford produces stainless steel balls that are specified for dispensing applications within the health care, cosmetics/fragrances, and household products industries. Hartford also produces balls for specialty applica... (read more)

Hartford Technologies has a Small Ball Pack Program for distributors of fasteners and related products. The Hartford Ball Pack Program is an excellent product line for fastener distributors who want to expand their product offerings.

OEM customers routinely use ball packs for engineering development purposes; MRO (maintenance / repair / operations) need them for routine equ... (read more)

Profile

There are no known industrial acids or caustics that will attack Teflon, and there is no known solvent for it.

Application

Teflon balls are recommended for applications where lightweight, non-metallic, and erosion-resistant properties are required. Teflon balls have a maximum work temperature of 550°F.

Hardness

R58

Tensile Strength

Hartford custom-manufactures precision pins and shafts to your specifications, with length and diameter tolerances depending upon the size and end configuration.

Crowned, rounded spherical, and chamfered ends (including chamfer on both ends) are available. All precision shafts and pins materials are through-hardened, except carbon steel.

Size Ranges

...

Pivot pins refer to pins that have a special end configuration (e.g spherical end) that allows this feature to be used as a cam profile, such as a detent pin.

A detent pin refers to pins that have a mechanical feature that prevents motion until this feature is released. One simple example is a pin that has a spring-loaded ball pressed into a hole along its length. The pin c... (read more)

Hartford Technologies custom manufactures precision knurled pins and knurled studs that provide the highest levels of straightness, roundness, and hardness, without marks. (read more)

We manufacture colored plastic balls in any custom color. In addition, natural (off-white) is the standard color. At Hartford, we can custom-match whatever color you need for your specific application.

Hartford Technologies produces colored plastic balls in Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene (PE), Teflon (PTFE), Nylon (PA), and Acetal (POM). Furthermore, engineered plastics such as... (read more)

Profile

Polypropylene balls have excellent chemical resistance and low density, as well as the highest melting point of the volume thermoplastics.

They are excellent electrical insulators, with low dielectric constant and loss factors. Polypropylene balls are highly resistant to acids, alkalis, alcohols, and many inorganic chemicals, and are non-toxic.

... (read more)

Profile

Acetal balls offer predictable mechanical, chemical, and electrical properties over a broad temperature range for extended periods. They exhibit good fatigue resistance, impact resistance, tensile and shear strength, and dimensional stability. They have very low moisture absorption characteristics. Delrin balls maintain a natural lubricity, giving them a low coeffic... (read more)

Hartford Technologies is the industry leader in the design and manufacture of precision balls for valves.

Our goal is to partner with you to identify the best possible alternatives for your next valve project:
Check – Hydraulic Cartridge – Hydraulic Shuttle

High and Low-Pressure Relief – Flow Control – Pneumatic

. (read more)

Profile

Polyethylene balls are a low-cost thermoplastic alternative, providing excellent abrasion resistance and high-impact characteristics.

Polyethylene balls are also used to reduce unpleasant odors. The smooth surface of polyethylene balls prevents chemicals from depositing on their surface

Applications

Polyethylene balls are used in many pha... (read more)

Nylon balls are an environmentally friendly choice due to how they are made and that they are reusable.

Profile

Nylon balls are insoluble in diluted mineral acids most organic acids, and common solvents. They are exceptionally resistant to alkalis, petroleum oil, and greases at temperatures up to 300°F. Acids such as lactic acid, photographic soluti... (read more)

Hartford Technologies is a leading manufacturer of custom bearing assemblies.

We specialize in the development of engineered bearings and custom bearing assemblies. Advanced materials expertise, design capabilities, and quality processes enable our team to produce engineered bearings that perform at high temperatures, speeds, and loads, as well as in less challenging environments.