Fafnir Bearings

Fafnir bearings are designed in two types to meet the differing demands of their intended applications. Specifically, they are designed to withstand conditions such as extreme temperature, low torque, high loads, misalignment, and low mass. Bearings of this type typically consist of an inner and outer ring filled with precision balls, a seal or shield and, in certain bearings, a cage or separator. These bearings are very common in flight control surfaces. The non-caged type is intended for applications with high loads and oscillating motion, while caged Fafnir bearings are ideal for low torque, lighter loads, and intermittent rotation.

 
The two types of Fafnir bearings are Angular contact ball bearings and radial bearings. Angular contact ball bearings are designed for both radial and axial loading, or a combination of the two. They are single-row bearings that have a very high thrust capacity in one direction. Some types of single-row Fafnir bearings are designed for mounting in sets to optimize performance. Angular contact ball bearings are able to support higher axial loads because the way they are constructed results in specific ball contact angles. Different designs will provide contact angles, usually ranging from 20° to 40°. Bearings with higher angles provide more axial load capacity as well as longer service life in bearings operating under axial and radial loads. The most common applications for angular contact bearings are in the chemical, utilities, agricultural, and general industrial industries.
 
Fafnir radial bearings utilize their versatile design that allows for high-speed operation throughout a wide range of loads and conditions. These bearings comprise an inner and outer ring with a cage containing precision balls or rollers. The standard conrad-type radial bearing features a deep-groove construction allowing it to handle radial and axial loads from both directions. However, Radial bearings designed specifically for maximum capacity primarily support radial loading. There is an extremely diverse selection of sizes of radial bearings, ranging from extra light to heavy. Furthermore, various shield and seal configurations exist to help protect the bearing’s internal components and contain its lubricants. In addition to the chemical, utilities, agriciutal, and general industrial industries, radial bearings are commonly used in the automotive industry.
 
There are also types of Fafnir bearings known as hybrid ball bearings, which combine ceramic balls or rolling elements with steel races. These provide similar performance at a lower cost, and also enable Ceramic bearings to surpass their normal service life and operating characteristics at high speeds. No matter what type of Fafnir bearing you need, ensure you are getting them from a trusted and reputable source.