Vibrations of Hybrid Ceramic Ball Bearings : 1st Report, Vibration Characteristics of Bearings under Axial Load

Abstract

The vibrations of hybrid ceramic ball bearings having steel rings and silicon nitride balls were investigated and compared with those of conventional steel ball bearings. The test ball bearings were operated at several speeds under axial loads. The radial and axial vibrations on the outer ring were monitored by an accelerometer. The vibrations were examined using a fast Fourier transform analyzer. From the experimental results and discussion, the following conclusions were obtained. ( 1 ) The overall values of vibratory velocity for hybrid ceramic ball bearings are higher than those of conventional steel ball bearings. ( 2 ) The peaks of radial and axial vibration of hybrid ceramic ball bearings appear in higher frequencies compared with the corresponding peaks of conventional steel ball bearings. ( 3 ) The peaks are caused by the radial natural vibrations of arbor, the in-plane natural vibrations and the out-of-plane natural vibrations of the outer ring.