How are ball bearings made?

Nearly everything we use on a daily basis has some form of bearing, from the car we drive to the office chair we sit in to the washing machine at home. A bearing works by carrying loads to help components move smoother and more efficiently, and Online Bearings have a great range in stock that can be used for a multitude of reasons. Metal Ball Bearing Process The first thing that happens when making a ball bearing is a metal wire that is around the diameter of the finished ball is put through a heading machine. This operation puts the metal through a cold or hot forming process with moulds that slam shut on the wire and force it into a ball shape. Usually this leaves a ring around the sphere called a ‘flash’. Removing the Flash In order to get rid of the metal ring the ball goes through a machine that rolls it through hardened steel rill plates, which have grooves that the balls travel through multiple times. By rolling through many different grooves, the balls will come out a uniform size and in a spherical shape. Naturally a lot of heat is generated so water is poured over the balls to act as a cooling medium. Sizing Ball Bearings After a series of heat treatments and grinding operations, the balls are ground down to their final size. A similar machine is used with metal plates but this time whilst also using a polish to give the bearings their shiny look. They are then inspected as ball bearings have to be within three millionths of an inch to be considered up to standard. All the bearings that we sell here at Online Bearings have been properly manufactured to the highest standard. Whatever you need to use steel ball bearings for, you can find a great range with Online Bearings. Contact Online Bearings If you need help choosing the right bearing for you, or if you want to know more about what we do then feel free to get in touch with our expert team who can help you. Call us directly on +44 (0)1282 693540 today, or alternatively feel free to contact us online. Not sure if you need a ball bearing?

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