July 2006
- Learn About SPS Spindles New Partnership-

SPS announces a new spindle company that it represents from Italy. This company offers an impressive range of spindles. Click on the logo to the left to find out more.

More information will be available shortly.

November 2005
- Learn About Ceramic Bearings-

Ceramic balls result in lower operating temperatures and less vibration levels than steel balls. The lower operating temperatures are the result of the nearly perfect roundness of ceramic balls, together with much greater smoothness, which reduces friction 70 percent. Lower vibration stems from the hybrid ceramic bearings’ higher rigidity and higher harmonic frequencies.

Also, according to manufacturing industry experts, ceramic balls do not react with steel raceways. Microwelding, or “cold welding,” results from the stee-ball to steel-raceway interaction, causing surface roughness, excessive heat and eventual bearing failure from wear, spalling or lubrication breakdown. With ceramic balls in a hybrid ceramic bearing, there is no such reaction with the steel raceways, assuring longer bearing life.

Another benefit is that the company can use the spindle at the same speed with grease as a lubricant instead of oil. Whenever grease lubricant is used with steel ball bearings, the speed must generally be reduced to achieve the same bearing life as with oil lubricant.

In closing, there are many extremely high quality metal bearings that will work very effectively in your applications, but if you have the opportunity to try ceramic, you really may find some significant new benefits.

-Tech Digest