Steel Conveyor Rollers Essentials

 A bearing housing also called a RAS cushion block or plumber block is a stand designed for the purpose of supporting the rotating shaft using the most suitable bearing, as well as other accessories. The most commonly used material for making steel conveyor rollers or cast iron.



The basic purpose is to mount the bearings securely so that their outer case is stable while the inner case runs independently. The housing has holes at its base, which keep it stable with bolts. A bearing housing can be split or non-split type. The split-type design allows its two pieces, the base and the cap, to be separated. Different types of seals are used to prevent the entry of dust or other impurities into the housing. The housing creates a clean environment for the operation of expensive bearings, thus enhancing their performance.

Housing that comes with built-in bearings is commonly known as pillow blocks. In their case, no one needs to buy separate bearings. Typically, pillow blocks can carry less weight and fit in a relatively clean environment. What sets them apart from plumber blocks is that the latter type does not have bearings and is often used to carry heavy loads in a corrosive industrial environment. However, in some parts of the world, the terms plumber block and pillow block are used interchangeably.

Materials used to make housing

The purpose of the housing is twofold: to protect the bearing during operation, and to provide arrangements to keep the bearing safe during its operation. Different materials with different characteristics can be used to make pillow block housing. Here are some commonly used materials:

Aluminum: It can carry heavy loads, and it has high thermal conductivity and fatigue strength.

Cast iron: The main component of this material is iron, which contains elements of silicon and carbon. The properties of cast iron depend on its microscopic structure, meaning stable and metastable phases, which are formed during the process of freezing and successful heat treatment. Cast iron is the most commonly used material for making pillow block-bearing housings.

Pressed steel: This type of low carbon material steel is pressed instead of machined to give the desired shape. It is mostly used for low-load applications, and it is cheaper than machined or cast blocks.

Plastics: Plastics come in large varieties, including synthetic, organic and processed. They can be thermosetting or thermoplastic type. They are widely used to make many products, including films and filaments.

Nylon: It is again available in many forms, depending on the grade of polyamides used. It is a hard material with a high-pressure rating.

PTFE: This insoluble compound is known for its low coefficient of friction and high resistance to chemicals.

Acetyl Polymers: These semi-crystalline materials have particularly high lubrication and chemical resistance properties, but they are associated with out-gassing troubles at high temperatures, and they are brittle at low temperatures. You can find it in glass-filled and complementary lubrication grades, but not in flame-retardant grades.

Stainless steel: This type of steel is highly resistant to corrosion and chemicals, and it is suitable for high-pressure applications.

Lubrication

All bearings necessarily require proper lubrication to reduce friction and reduce wear and tear. There are three types of lubricants: oil, grease, and film. Lubrication options are manual and self-lubrication.


Manual lubrication requires the use of a pump or other fitting provided in the housing to bring the lubricant to the bearing friction points.

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