The hallmark of thin‑section bearings is their slim profile: ideal for applications with tight spatial constraints. The fixed cross‑section design ensures that even with larger bores, the bearing remains compact and lightweight.
These bearings offer excellent strength‑to‑weight ratios. As bore size increases, weight remains nearly constant—beneficial for robotics, aerospace, and portable devices.
Thin wall ball bearings use small-diameter steel balls to minimize internal friction, enabling smooth rotation with low torque and energy loss—crucial for high-speed and continuous-use systems.
Manufactured to tight tolerances (often ABEC P5–P7), these bearings deliver precise motion control, excellent stiffness, and minimal deflection—even under dynamic loads.
Available in radial (C‑type), angular contact (A‑type), and four‑point contact (X‑type) configurations, thin‑section bearings can support radial, axial, and moment loads as required.
Thin‑section bearings come in open, shielded (ZZ), or rubber‑sealed (2RS) variants to suit different environments—from cleanrooms to outdoor industrial settings.
Thin section ball bearings are essential for the robotics industry, providing high-precision, space-saving solutions that enable compact designs and efficient movement in robotic arms and automated systems.
Thin section ball bearings for medical equipment are crucial in the medical equipment industry, providing high precision and reliability to meet the strict requirements of space-constrained and lightweight designs.
Explore thin section ball bearings for energy industry applications. Their high-precision design ensures efficient and reliable performance of critical equipment under harsh conditions, meeting the unique needs of the energy industry.
Always keep bearings, shafts, and housing surfaces clean, dry, and free of debris or oil residues. Any contamination can lead to premature failure.
Inspect components carefully—remove burrs, dents, or rust on the shaft or housing seat before installing your thin‑section ball bearing.
Store bearings in the original packaging, flat and supported for larger/delicate thin‑wall rings, opening only right before installation.
Use precision gauges to measure the shaft, housing bore, and bearing dimensions. Thin-section bearings are especially sensitive to tolerances, so accurate fits are critical.
For bearings with bore diameter ≤ 100 mm, a tolerance grade of IT6 is recommended; for series 7–9, IT4 cylindricity may be even better.
Shaft fits: use a light press/interference fit for the inner ring. Housing fits often allow a loose or floating fit, especially when thermal expansion is expected.
Apply a thin film of oil or grease as specified by your bearing manufacturer. Avoid over-packing grease, which increases temperature and friction.
For interference fits on the inner ring, gently heat the bearing (e.g., oil bath or induction heater) up to about 120 °C (248 °F) to expand it—never exceed that temperature.
For outer-ring press fits using shrink fit, bearings may be cooled (e.g. with dry ice), but keep surfaces dry and protected from condensation.
Press fittings: use correct mounting sleeves/tooling that only apply force to the inner ring when pressing onto the shaft, and only to the outer ring when pressing into the housing. Never push on the wrong ring—this avoids damage to raceways.
Simultaneous mounting: when both shaft and housing require tight tolerances, press through both rings equally using proper tools to avoid ring distortion.
When installing multiple bearings (e.g. duplex angular-contact pairs), ensure proper alignment using dial indicators or laser tools—misalignment drastically reduces bearing life.
Secure the inner ring axially when required—use locknuts, end‑caps, or retaining rings tightened to specified torque values.
If preload is needed (e.g. duplex sets), adjust using shims or springs according to manufacturer guidelines.
After mounting, rotate the assembly by hand to confirm smooth operation, no binding, minimal noise, or roughness.
Conduct a run-in period while monitoring temperature, vibration, and noise levels. Follow OEM recommendations for initial operating hours.
Proper lubrication of thin wall ball bearings, also known as thin section ball bearings, is essential to ensure long service life and reliable performance. Lubricants form a protective film that:
Reduces friction and wear, preventing metal-to-metal contact between balls and raceways.
Dissipates heat, especially if oil lubrication is used—cooling is vital at higher operational speeds.
Protects against corrosion and contamination, creating a barrier against moisture and dirt.
Extends fatigue life, since fluid film thickness correlates directly with bearing life.
Inadequate or improper lubrication is widely recognized as one of the most common causes of bearing failure.
Grease Lubrication
Most sealed thin section ball bearings are factory‑filled with specialized grease (e.g., MIL‑G‑23827). Grease offers excellent sealing, stable performance, and low maintenance.
Grease holds well in place, reducing contaminant ingress and prolonging service intervals.
Oil Lubrication
Unsealed bearings are oil-coated during manufacturing, often using MIL‑L‑3150 oil, then excess oil is drained.
Oil lubrication is preferred for high-speed, high-temperature, or low-torque applications. It enables better cooling and lower torque compared to grease.
Solid or Dry Lubricants
In extreme temperature or contamination-sensitive settings, dry lubricants like graphite or molybdenum disulfide may be used. These provide friction reduction where oils or greases cannot survive.
Grease Application Strategies
For sealed bearings, no re‑lubrication may be needed for some lifetime applications. For open bearings, schedule periodic grease replenishment.
Use the correct grease volume—typically filling about 30–50 % of the internal space. Too much can cause heat; too little leads to inadequate film coverage.
Always use clean grease of the same type to avoid compatibility issues.
Oil Lubrication Techniques
Oil‑coated thin‑section bearings are applied at the factory and drained to proper level. Additional lubrication may be needed during service.
Circulating oil systems may be used in critical applications to ensure continuous cooling and contaminant flushing.
Specialized Methods
Oil mist lubrication delivers fine aerosolized oil to bearings in industrial environments. At standby, the oil mist preserves bearings; when rotating, droplets coalesce and lubricate effectively.
Fluid (hydrodynamic/hydrostatic) lubrication is not common in thin‑section ball bearings but may be relevant in precision fluid‑film bearings.
Slewing Bearing Lubrication
Slewing Bearing Inspection
Test the Bearing for Smoothness
Bearing Mounting Drilling
Packaging Video
Introduction to PRS Bearing
