1. CORROSION RESISTANCE
2. LIGHTWEIGHT
3. DESIGN FLEXIBILITY
4. PRODUCT INTEGRATION
5. NON METALLIC NON MAGNETIC
6. HYGIENIC
7. NOISE CONTROL
8. SHOCK LOAD SUPPRESSION
9. LUBRICATION FREE
10. LOW INERTIA FREER TURNING

1. CORROSION RESISTANCE:

Most bearing failures today are caused by corrosion. KMS Bearings' plastic ball bearings can be utilized in environments destructive to conventional bearings. They can operate in hostile environments such as sea water, film processing solutions and swimming pools. In many cases the medium can be used as a lubricant.

2. LIGHTWEIGHT:

Plastics are five times lighter than steel, thereby reducing the weight and energy required to move them.

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3. DESIGN FLEXIBILITY:

Special designs are readily and inexpensively made from plastics. This allows engineers complete freedom to design the bearing around the device rather than attempting to design the device around a limited range of standard bearings.

KMS can design a bearing around a stock cage that is determined by the load, speed and overall size requirement. We have standard cages to accommodate bearings sizes from as small as 1/2" O.D. to as large as 5" I.D. If we do not have a cage for your size requirement we can easily make a new cage size by either machining or making a new mold tool. The illustration shows the numerous possibilities that a standard bearing can be modified to. We can change the bore from a minimum to a maximum I.D. We can change the bore from a round hole to a solid to a hex. The outer ring can be modified from a round to a two-hole flange, or to a sprocket or to a self mounting fixing clip fastener design. See Special Bearings for further examples of integrated designs.

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4. PRODUCT INTEGRATION:

Many times a bearing is mounted into another part, such as a plastic pulley, sprocket, wheel or a mounted block. Utilizing the design concept of a plastic ball bearing, KMS Bearings, Inc., can integrate the mating component as the raceway of the bearing, ie: pulley as the outer ring, or the shaft as the inner ring. The end result is fewer parts, reduced assembly time, and overall lower cost.

For an example of actual integrated plastic race ball bearings click on special bearings and for an animated graphic of product integrating click on design flexibility.

SPECIAL BEARINGS
DESIGN FLEXIBILITY

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5. NON METALLIC NON MAGNETIC:

Plastic ball bearings become completely non magnetic when fitted with either polymer, glass, or non magnetic 316 stainless balls. They are ideal for use where there can be no magnetic distortion.

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6. HYGIENIC:

Plastic ball bearings are naturally clean because they do not corrode or require lubrication. They are ideal for wash down applications and clean room environments.

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7. NOISE CONTROL:

Plastics have the inherent ability to dampen vibrations. Add lubrication and they become virtually silent.

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8. SHOCK LOAD SUPPRESSION:

Plastics absorb shock loads better than metal due to their elastic nature. Many conventional radial ball bearings fail due to brinelling of the raceway, ie: balls denting the raceway.

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9. LUBRICATION FREE:

There are three reasons steel bearings require lubrication; to reduce friction, dissipate heat and resist corrosion. Plastic, by nature, does not corrode. Due to the design of plastic ball bearings, there is no metal to metal contact, resulting in less friction; therefore dissipating heat becomes less critical.

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10. LOW INERTIA FREER TURNING:

Plastic ball bearings run freer and naturally have low inertia due to the low coefficient of friction between plastic and stainless. Two other factors contributing to low inertia are the ability to run without grease and being lighter in weight.

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