Page 19 - Industrial Technology EXTRA 15th March 2021

BEARINGS AND SLIDES EXTRA ‘FOCUS’

New range of bearings from SKF brings

efficiency boost for driven tools

KF has created a range of high
precision bearings based on proven
bearings technology specifically
Ssuitable for use in driven tool
applications. The company has adapted an
existing, proven super-precision angular contact
ball bearings design so they can meet the
specific requirements of the driven tool
application.
“This bearing design improves robustness in
the driven tool application thereby contributing
to increased efficiency and uptime,” says Karl-
Heinz Littwin, Machine Tool Sales Manager for
Germany at SKF. “In these applications, even the
smallest impacts can cause significant
disruption.” While a standard cutting tool is held offer high axial and radial load-carrying capacity,
stationary against a rotating workpiece, a driven high stiffness, and low noise and vibration.
tool can be rotated at high speed. This allows it These features deliver several benefits, including
to perform high precision milling, drilling and low heat generation, plus increased reliability
tapping operations. Naturally, this requires and productivity.
highly accurate bearings that often must An optimised internal geometry enables the
withstand considerable loads. bearings to accommodate high radial and axial
Driven tools are widely used as they can raise loads. Close osculation of the balls provides high
machining efficiency by performing several stiffness and maximum load-carrying capacity.
operations at once. However, such high-precision “This is a mature market application where
operations come with several challenges. reliable, consistent performance is needed in
Machining space is often limited, with short order to avoid costly downtime,” says Littwin. “In
cycle times and high machining forces. this application, the correct balance of price and
Contaminants, noise and vibration increase the performance is critical; we see our new bearings
stress on machinery and on operators. These as offering customers considerable advantages in
conditions require bearings that can maintain this specialised section of the machine tool
performance and avoid downtime. industry where total cost of ownership is a key
SKF’s new range of bearings for driven tools consideration.”
are available in sealed and open versions. They www.skf.co.uk

March 2021 • INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY EXTRA • p19