Mounted Bearing Locking Trends In Unit Material Handling Applications
The trend in unit material handling and heavy industry applications has shifted from traditional setscrew locking designs to newer concentric locking solutions. Concentric locking results in more near-perfect concentricity, quieter operation, increased lock reliability, higher operational speed, and reduced damage to the shafting. The results: improved equipment performance and increased uptime.
While a concentric locking design has its benefits and its use has grown, user preference continues to be setscrew locking. When it comes to installation, many users appreciate the simplicity of setscrews: tighten two setscrews, and you’re done. But it’s not that simple. Did the installer properly torque the setscrews to the bearing manufacturer’s recommended torque value? Is the setscrew properly stressed in the hole to provide the required holding force? Did the installer align the setscrew locations for both bearings on the shaft? If the setscrews are not aligned, more wobble is introduced in the system, resulting in decreased lock reliability, increased noise, and the possibility of locking failure. When selecting a bearing for your unit material handling equipment, we believe a concentric lock design is the best solution.
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