Machinery forms an integral part of any industry, and there are different types of industrial equipment for various purposes. Since all machines serve distinct purposes, they should feature quality components and parts to ensure efficiency. It can be challenging to find the right parts since companies use different machines. Nevertheless, industrial equipment features different components essential for the proper functioning of the machines.
What are the common machine components, and what are their uses?
- Needle bearings
Needle bearings are handy in the automotive industry. They are common in components like rocker arm pivots, pumps, and transmissions. They use small cylindrical rollers in their operation, and their length is greater than the diameter, hence the term needle.
Why are they important? The main role of needle bearings is to reduce friction in a rotating surface and control shaft endplay. What’s more, they help minimize wear since the weight is spread over a large surface area. It’s also worth mentioning that needle bearings have a greater load-carrying capability than ball bearings.
- Bushings
Bushings feature thin tubes and are common in machines with rotating or sliding shaft components. They are commonly used in drilling operations in hydraulic external gear pumps and motors, and drill rigs. They help enhance efficiency and minimize noise and vibrations.
Bushings feature a soft material or plastic and an oil film that supports the rotating shaft. The good thing about this component is that it transmits minimal noise and vibration and requires minimal or no lubrication.
- Slewing bearings
Slewing ring bearings are commonly used in construction machinery, excavation machines, wind turbines, and cranes. They are large-sized and carry higher axial and radial loads. The ole of slewing bearings is to support heavy, slow tuning oscillating loads.
They feature different parts, including mounting holes, gears, lubricant holes, and sealing equipment. Slewing bearings come in different structures, including the;
- Four-point contact ball slewing bearing
- Contact ball slewing bearings
- Crossed tapered roller bearings
- Crossed cylindrical roller slewing bearings
- Three-row cylindrical roller slewing bearings
- Hydraulic seals
Hydraulic seals are soft- non-metallic rings fixed in a combination of rings. They are useful in blocking or separating fluid in reciprocating motion applications. These components prevent leakage and protect hydraulic systems against contamination, thus enhancing their lifespan.
There are different types of hydraulic seals, and all are essential in machinery operations. These include;
- Piston seals
- Wiper seals
- Rod seals
- Rotating seals
- Oil seal
- Linear bearings
A linear bearing is a crucial component with applications in industrial robots, cutting machinery, machine slides, industrial and instrumentation systems. They come in motor-driven ball screws, lead screws, or manual force and are useful for driving motion. They are commonly used in machine tool applications like sliding doors and automation settings requiring friction reduction and linear motion guidance.
In summary, there are different machine parts and components in the market. Acquire specific ones for your type of machinery and go for high-quality components. Only purchase from reputed manufacturers and seek help from the team if unsure of the most suitable parts for your equipment.
If buying and servicing large-scale machinery with high-quality components seems like it may be unachievable for your industrial needs then perhaps renting some of the machines, vehicles and cranes Melbourne has on offer may be more suitable for you.
