Save material and increase precision

In close coordination with the customers, Rodriguez develops customized ball bearing solutions, so-called Value Added Products. (Image: Rodriguez GmbH)

Whether in satellites in space or in X-ray machines in hospitals and clinics: in many specialized applications, custom-made precision bearings from Rodriguez are used. Tailored to the respective applications, they can often incorporate additional functions and thus help reduce material usage and decrease tolerances.

If a satellite deploys its solar sails or an X-ray device automatically adjusts the focus, it demands much more specific movement implementations than standard bearings could provide. For this reason, Rodriguez develops and manufactures precision bearings specifically adapted to customer requirements.

Customize all product parameters

The company's development specialists can virtually customize all product parameters to meet individual customer needs. The range extends from the dimensions of the bearings to the materials of the cages and rolling bodies, as well as special greases for lubrication. For example, if cleanroom conditions are required, the developers use stainless steel for the cage and ceramics for the rollers. If the bearing must operate under extreme environmental conditions, special greases are used, with viscosities optimized for very high or low temperatures.

But the customization by Rodriguez’s engineers goes even further. They analyze the entire application situation. This includes not only the load on the bearings but also the environment of the existing process chain. "Often, we can integrate additional functionalities into the rolling bearings, for example, for fastening or adjustment," explains Rodriguez development manager Dr.-Ing. Thomas Dorfmüller.

Surrounding parts become unnecessary

This integration of functions often makes one or even several surrounding parts unnecessary. As a result, customers benefit from a whole range of advantages. Development steps as well as procurement, administrative, and assembly costs are eliminated. Customers save material and also gain some of the very limited space available in modern systems. Another crucial advantage for highly complex applications: precision increases. Because: each additional part is known to increase tolerances; each part that can be omitted reduces them.

The specialists from the team of development manager Dorfmüller have extensive experience and are well acquainted with the requirements of automated motion tasks. Many of their individually developed rolling bearings successfully serve not only in applications such as satellites, X-ray systems, optical and laser measurement devices, and in the semiconductor industry but also in traditional machinery and plant engineering. For interested parties from all industries, Thomas Dorfmüller and his specialists are always ready to design customized, robust, and highly precise rolling bearing solutions.