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Visit ShopSteel bushings are the unsung heroes of the manufacturing floor. In short, they take a beating so that the drive shaft and housing on your machines don’t have to. Think of the cartilage around the bones in your knee. Much like a bushing, knee cartilage absorbs vibration, reduces friction, and maintains smooth rotation. Some types […]
A flange bearing is a type of mounted bearing in which the mounted shaft runs perpendicular to the mounting surface and the center line of the mounting holes. This is in contrast to a pillow block bearing, in which the mounted shaft runs parallel to the mounting surface. Flange bearings consist of a flanged housing […]
If you’re in need of pillow block bearings, chances are you already know a thing or two about them. For those unfamiliar, we’ll use this post go through the basics: sizes, types, and selection. When the mounted shaft is running parallel to the mounting surface, then a pillow block bearing is often used. The pillow […]
There is an unseen, energy-consuming monster in your facility. You deal with it everywhere you go, and it is constantly working against you. It was studied by Aristotle and da Vinci and can eat away at some of the earth’s strongest materials. Have you guessed it yet? The pesky but unavoidable culprit is friction. A […]
A typical industrial environment such as a manufacturing facility has multiple types of power transmission technology being put to use. The most common drives are chain drives, belt drives, and gear drives. Chain Drives When slip is your enemy, your ally is a chain drive. With chain links running over toothed sprockets, chain drives are […]
When selecting a mounted bearing, there are a handful of characteristics that must be taken into consideration in order to maximize its functionality. Two of these characteristics are the housing material and seal-type of the bearing. Depending on the operating conditions, protection requirements, and specific environmental demands, the recommendation for seal-type and housing material varies. […]
Foodborne illness is a significant problem in the US and in some respects is getting worse. In fact, a study by Fortune Magazine found that, on average, 48 million Americans fall victim to a food-related illness every year. In 2015, the estimated annual costs associated with these illnesses was $55.5 billion. This unsettling information is not only […]
The speed of your drive system, its load, and its hours of operation all contribute to the frequency of belt replacement, but the performance and longevity of your V-belts depend largely on steadfast maintenance and correctly recognizing and diagnosing issues. Most common issues can be easily seen or heard, and we’ve put together a list […]
Whether they are transmitting power to equipment or products from one point to another, roller chains are an integral part of any industrial operation; and reducing downtime and the frequency of replacement is an ongoing goal. A common, creeping issue is that of chain elongation, or “stretch.” Contrary to how it might sound, chain elongation […]
Every time you change a belt, you should be checking your sheaves for wear. Neglected, worn sheaves can cause serious issues down the line that result in unexpected downtime and increased replacement costs. When belts are removed, wear might be easy to spot; but what about when belts are still on? Here we discuss some […]