Sometimes, just getting the right information can be challenging.  Some sources can be too broad while others can be too narrow forcing a person to pull information from multiple locations. The same can be true for bearing catalogs.  However, this has all changed with AST Bearings’ full-line interactive bearings catalog.

The bearings catalog from AST Bearings is actually dynamically driven by a state-of-the-art database.  This gives it the flexibility it needs to deliver just the right information to the user every time.  This is especially true since AST Bearings full-line catalog contains more than 10,000 different part numbers (and that doesn’t factor in configuration differences such as lubricants, precision levels, materials, closures and more).

A Matter of Navigation

Besides being database driven, one of the true strengths of the AST Bearings full-line bearing catalog is the ability to start wherever you want.  If you want to see the entire catalog, you can start at the main index.  However, what if you only want to look at “Spherical Plain Bearings” or just “Thrust Bearings?”  That’s okay too because you can start in a catalog section dedicated to just that type of bearing.
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When KBC Bearings became part of the Shaeffler Group, the promotion of the 59 year-old brand outside of Korea was greatly minimized. This also made getting a copy of the KBC Bearings catalog difficult. However, the brand is very much alive and a great source for high-quality, Korean-made bearings. If you read Korean, you can check out their official website at:

http://www.schaeffler.kr/content.schaeffler.kr/ko/kbc_products/KBC_Products.jsp

Download the KBC Bearing Catalog

But now, through a special arrangement, the English language version of their full-line catalog is now available online. The KBC Bearings catalog is 244 pages and is broken down into fully index sections to quickly access the information you are looking for.
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AST Bearings has published numerous white papers about bearings.

Ever wonder how to calculate the life of a ball bearing?  Did you ever need to calculate a radial ball bearing’s load rating?  AST Bearings just published a white paper entitled “Radial Ball Bearings – Life and Load Ratings.”  In its technical discussion of life and load ratings, the paper discusses various aspects of the radial ball bearing calculations including:

• Basic dynamic load rating
• Life formula
• Adjusted life formula
• Reliability factor
• Material factor
• Operating conditions
• Basic static load rating
• Equivalent dynamic bearing load “P”
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Go to AST Bearings' Interactive Online Catalog

Just in time for the holidays and new year, AST Bearings now has over 10,000 bearing products included on their interactive online catalog (10,024 products to be exact) in 8 product categories and 40 sub-categories. Each has downloadable 3D CAD models available free of charge and includes full specifications. AST just completed a major update to the catalog by adding or updating nearly 1,000 products over the past month or so. Please check it out and let us know what you think of it. Learn more…

Spherical bearings come in many different types to accommodate a wide variety of applications. What all of them have in common is the ability to accommodate misalignment from mounting or shaft deflection.

• Spherical Ball Bearings
• Spherical Roller Bearings
• Spherical Plain Bearings
• Spherical Rod End Bearings

Spherical Ball Bearings

More commonly known as Self-Aligning Double Row Ball Bearings, spherical ball bearings are designed to work in applications where severe misalignment exists whether from mounting or shaft deflection. The concave raceway of the outer ring in combination with two rows of balls operates over a wide range of contact angles. Furthermore it aligns itself correctly with the shaft and assembly without causing undue stress on the rest of the bearing assembly. Noteworthy is that the self-aligning ball bearing has the lowest friction of all rolling bearings, which enables it to run cooler even at high speeds. Furthermore, the design allows for easy mounting and dismounting.

Visit our web page dedicated to Self-Aligning Double Row Ball Bearings for more information about Spherical Ball Bearings. 
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An example of a separable ball bearing capable of 350,000 RPM's from GRW

At first glance the design of a ball bearing is clear: An inner ring is mounted with an outer ring, the appropriate balls and retainer. Then the ball bearing is combined with the lubricant adapted to the requirements of use and if necessary a shield to protect against contamination.

Due to the numerous norms and installation recommendations in the area of the rolling bearing the external dimensions of the various ball bearing manufacturers only differ in nuances. The big differences become obvious in the internal values of the ball bearing, the materials used for rings and retainers, number of balls and their diameter, surface structure and profile precision, as well as the lubricant used.
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The GRW bearing factory manufactures and ships to AST German-made, precision miniature ball bearings in as little as 6 weeks!

Today, ten weeks seems to be the minimum time to receive precision ball bearings ordered directly from a factory regardless of where they are manufactured.  Some factories have been quoting 180 days or more to receive product.  Did you know that you can receive German-made, precision miniature ball bearings in only six weeks from issuing a purchase order?

GRW Bearings – An Exceptional German Factory

Yes, six weeks is the normal turnaround for the GRW Bearings’ factory to produce and ship orders to AST Bearings.  GRW offers short development times and modern production facilities to fulfill all requirements in precision and function. If you don’t know about GRW Bearings, you should.  GRW is a German miniature ball bearings manufacturer of some of the highest quality products available anywhere in the world including ABEC 9 precision level products.  All this is available through AST Bearings, the only authorized, full-line stocking supplier of GRW bearings in the United States.

Exclusive SV30 Steel Also Available in Only 6 Weeks

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