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You might be sat on an office chair right now. Or even better, you may be sat on a swivelling bar stool. Both chairs rely on small thrust bearings to endure the thrust load of the human body sat on them, while still allowing for an easy spin. However, not all miniature thrust bearings can take on such a task.
Read MoreThe best cyclists have a very special mindset, which allows them to focus on the bike and the road, without distraction, ignoring tailwind, overlooking the rain, appreciating the uphill. These escapes from reality are often beneficial, but there are some misconceptions in cycling that aren’t as helpful.
Read MoreFoo Fighters frontman, Dave Grohl, created a documentary about his love for pre-digital recording back in 2013. The landmark film, Sound City, explained how reel-to-reel analogue recording is far from dead in the music industry. But who is keeping this old vintage equipment alive?
Read MoreTo avoid equipment breakdowns, industry professionals must improve their knowledge of bearing materials — that is the warning provided by SMB Bearings. We have identified a worrying trend related to the terminology used for ceramic bearing types, with many end users failing to differentiate between hybrid and full ceramic variations.
Read MoreBeauty is only skin deep. Albeit cliché, the same is true of ball bearings. External signs of rust do not necessarily equate to poor performance. However, many customers are falling foul of this misconception.
Read MoreSMB Bearings, has increased its capacity from 1.5 million bearings to 2.6 million bearings at its Oxfordshire warehouse. The increase in capacity has been carefully planned to alleviate the pressures associated with European customers stockpiling bearings ahead of predicted Brexit shortages.
Read MoreThe global ceramic bearings market set to grow at a CAGR of around eleven per cent between 2017 and 2023, with lab equipment representing a key application for this growth. We examine the link between ceramic bearings sales and the output of successful scientific research.
Read MoreLow-temperature reactions are widely used in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Temperatures of approximately minus 80 degrees Celsius are sufficiently cold for most cGMP requirements, but as Chris Johnson, managing director of SMB Bearings explains, these extreme temperatures create design challenges for machinery components.
Read MoreBearings are circular, much like the economy they are used in. As more customers avoid disposing of bearings needlessly, Chris Johnson explains the sudden surge in popularity of reusing and recycling ball bearings through relubrication.
Read MoreHeat, contamination and unpredictable weather constantly threaten to disrupt the performance of offshore oil and gas facilities. These unforgiving conditions can be detrimental to the performance of drilling equipment, pumps and extraction machinery — but what steps can be taken to ensure quality engineering at sea? Chris Johnson, managing director of SMB Bearings, explains why, sometimes, it’s the little things that count.
Read MoreApproximately 27,000 ceramic tiles cover the exterior of the NASA Space Shuttle — a reusable spacecraft that carries astronauts in a low orbit around Earth. Acting as a thermal barrier to the 1650 degrees Celsius generated by atmospheric re-entry, the tiles illustrate the impressive resistance of ceramic materials. The impressive properties of ceramics are also being used in bearings. Here, Chris Johnson, managing director of precision bearing specialist SMB Bearings, explains the specifications, capabilities and differences of full ceramic and hybrid bearings.
Read MoreImplementing condition monitoring can reduce the frequency and cost of equipment maintenance. Specifically, vibration analysis can provide valuable insight into machine condition, flagging up problems before extensive damage occurs. Chris Johnson, managing director of ball bearing supplier SMB Bearings, explains the steps machine builders should take to reduce the likelihood of bearings being the root cause.
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