Servomotor bearing with low particle emissions

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September 2024 Motion Control & Drives

NSK is introducing a high-performance bearing for servomotors that reduces the emission of particles such as grease and oil. This breakthrough will contribute to the stable operation of vital industry machines such as robots.

To find a way of overcoming the issue of particle emissions from bearings, NSK undertook research into the mechanism behind this longstanding industry problem. Alongside the implementation of a more precise evaluation and test machine with a configuration and environment similar to an actual servomotor, the company was able to design an entirely new bearing structure featuring advanced design elements.

Using its extensive experience in tribology, which controls friction and wear via lubricants and material surfaces, NSK developed a bearing with new grease and seal technology and half the particle emissions of conventional products. The grease also provides double the conventional lifespan, while the rubber seal delivers lower torque.

With many countries enduring a shrinking labour pool, the market for industrial robots continues to grow. However, robot users require high levels of reliability, and this depends on the robot’s components. A typical articulated arm robot, for example, might feature up to six servomotors to facilitate robot positioning and speed in its various axes. Each servomotor houses two bearings: a load-side bearing supporting the shaft where it exits the servomotor and a counter load-side bearing located between the brake disc and encoder disc.

In high-temperature environments such as servomotors, bearings tend to scatter tiny particles of grease and oil as they rotate. These emissions stick to the discs and cause issues such as encoder read errors and brake slippage. The need for low particle emission in bearings is clear in applications of this type, which is why NSK set about developing anti-scatter grease and seals that provide a high level of hermeticity.

The new NSK grease restrains evaporation in high-temperature environments such as servomotors and uses superior thermally resistant components to ensure low particle emissions and better resistance to seizing. NSK’s new rubber seal features a redesigned lip shape that again supports low particle emissions, while also facilitating 10% lower torque. Aside from servomotors, NSK’s new bearing is also suitable for other products that require low particle emissions, contributing to stable operation in a wide range of industrial machinery.

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Motion Control & Drives

Servomotor bearing with low particle emissions

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