Bearings

Bearings are devices that allow movement in a fixed direction between two parts, usually rotational or linear movement. Bearings can be grouped by the way they work. There are several types of bearings, however, the most common are rolling bearings and plain bearings

 Bearings are mechanical components developed to allow the support of a shaft while it rotates, in order to always keep it in its original position.

The factors that influence the choice of bearings are:

Babbitt metal can be one of several alloys used as a bearing surface in plain bearings It’s a white, soft, non-ferrous alloy that is used to provide a bearing surface.

Bearings are used in engines to support moving mechanical parts and protect them from frictional degradation. Babbitt metal also has properties that help reduce friction, which makes it a good material for use in a plain bearing. Babbitt metal is soft and can be easily damaged if not treated properly.

This would make it look unsuitable for use as a bearing surface, however the alloy structure is made up of small hard crystals, which are dispersed in a softer alloy matrix. This means that as the bearing wears out, the harder crystal is exposed and a path for the lubricant is provided.

The bearings Babbitt 's work by providing a low coefficient of friction, achieved primarily by two means.

First, there is the fact that the bearing itself has a low coefficient of friction, so even without lubrication, a Babbitt bearing will have much less friction than another metal such as steel or cast iron.

However, by adding lubrication, Babbitt bearings can have a significantly low coefficient of friction, even lower than ball bearings.