BALLS!...The race type

[komatias]

Having worked with them for a few years in my day job my advise would be If you can afford the ceramic bearings then why not. Just be sure to get the accuracy and preload class correct. Contrary to common belief, they are as tough as the hardened steel ones.

Typically you will get the hybrid types on machines where the races are steel and the balls are silicon nitride or carbide. The balls actually condition the races somewhat and the whole system works smoother with less friction even at near dry conditions.

Best of luck.

[Nthkentman]

Hmmmm....Preload and class. Well it's a Chinese build water cooled head. Unsure what the preloads would be but until I strip it (Work is busy at the mo and can't afford the downtime) I'll not know.

Perhaps I'll seek out some anyway and try them out.


Thanks for the reply

Having worked with them for a few years in my day job my advise would be If you can afford the ceramic bearings then why not. Just be sure to get the accuracy and preload class correct. Contrary to common belief, they are as tough as the hardened steel ones.

Typically you will get the hybrid types on machines where the races are steel and the balls are silicon nitride or carbide. The balls actually condition the races somewhat and the whole system works smoother with less friction even at near dry conditions.

Best of luck.

[Lee Roberts]

Would suggest NOT going with ceramic's!

Why?, expensive and fragile!

A single "nock" or mishap could kill them and make it a waste of time for this application on top of it being OTT IMO.

Replace like-4-like and you cant go wrong.



.Me

[komatias]

Lee,

It depends on the ceramic used. (Engineering ceramics does not mean pottery) I can personally admit to having taken a hammer to some silicon nitride and silicon carbide balls and they did not even dent.

It all depends on what you buy.

I know of at least one oilwell drilling tool that uses such bearings being rated to a few hundred G's worth of shock.

One local manufacturer used to supply a machine reconditioner angular contact bearing for bridgeport type mill spindle. On my desk I have a set of angular contact bearings wheel bearings of the same brand as used on the racing Smart car made by the same company.

Please do not take this personally, I am just going on my experience. You may of course have different experience which I think would be nice to share here.

Would suggest NOT going with ceramic's!

Why?, expensive and fragile!

A single "nock" or mishap could kill them and make it a waste of time for this application on top of it being OTT IMO.

Replace like-4-like and you cant go wrong.



.Me

[Nthkentman]

Komatias..........Where would you suggest I purchase a pair of ceramic 7002s form that would be good for my spindle ?

Lee,

It depends on the ceramic used. (Engineering ceramics does not mean pottery) I can personally admit to having taken a hammer to some silicon nitride and silicon carbide balls and they did not even dent.

It all depends on what you buy.

I know of at least one oilwell drilling tool that uses such bearings being rated to a few hundred G's worth of shock.

One local manufacturer used to supply a machine reconditioner angular contact bearing for bridgeport type mill spindle. On my desk I have a set of angular contact bearings wheel bearings of the same brand as used on the racing Smart car made by the same company.

Please do not take this personally, I am just going on my experience. You may of course have different experience which I think would be nice to share here.