A newer technology, plastic ball bearings provide qualities not offered by steel or ceramic bearings. In the third and final part of our series on bearing materials, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using this non-traditional bearing material.
PLASTIC BALL BEARINGS
Plastic bearings are made of all plastic races and a plastic cage. Depending on the environment where you’ll be using the bearing, you can choose between three types of balls: plastic, glass, or stainless steel.
Plastic bearings are available in different materials, similar to how there are different types of steel. The most common materials for plastic bearings are molded nylon plastic, molded acetal (POM), and PA.
Plastic bearings are frequently used for packaging machinery, medical technology, semi-conductor manufacturing equipment, and other applications due to their unique advantages listed below.
ADVANTAGES OF PLASTIC BALL BEARINGS
Plastic balls are used when noise and weight are the most important consideration.
- Self-lubricating
- Corrosion resistant
- Quiet in operation
- Lightweight (Lightest of all options)
- Nonmagnetic when used with plastic or glass balls
- Frequently used in special designs
DISADVANTAGES OF PLASTIC BALL BEARINGS
While plastic bearings are extremely useful for many applications, there are some scenarios where another type of bearing would be better. Here are some instances where plastic bearings may not be your best option.
- Applications with high loads
- Environments where long-term temperatures exceed 300° F
INVEST IN THE RIGHT BEARINGS
Are you looking for plastic bearings for your application? Ritbearing provides business with quality Kashima plastic bearings that can be customized around your applications’ needs. If plastic isn’t right, we offer a wide variety of steel and ceramic bearings that may be a better fit for your business.
Contact us to talk with one of our experts to find the right bearing solution for you.
This post was updated February 2018.