Thin section bearings are characterized by their particularly slim design with large diameters. Because of these properties, they can solve problems in many applications. One such application can be found in the Highland fly reels from LH Design. Here, “Ultra-Slim” bearings from Rodriguez ensure that the reel spool does not turn out of the frame.
“During the construction phase of our Highland fly reel, we were looking for particularly thin bearings with a large diameter,” recalls Leen Huisman, owner of LH Design. The company manufactures high quality fly reels and accessories for fly fishing. And since these always come into contact with water, additional attention had to be paid to the protection against corrosion. The accuracy of the bearings also had to be guaranteed. The Dutch manufacturer finally found what they were looking for at Rodriguez. Today, ultra-slim thin section bearings are used in the flyreels of the “Highland” series. Flyreels are special fly reels that are combined with matching fly rods. “We install the thin section bearings in the fly reel. There they ensure that the reel spool can rotate in the frame with great accuracy, ”says Leen Huisman.
Limited space no problem
For the limited space in the fly reel, the slim dimensions of the thin ring bearings are ideal. The large diameter also ensures the stability of the construction. Because the fly reels are also used in salt water, LH Design decided in favor of thin-ring bearings in a corrosion-free stainless steel design. The labyrinth construction in combination with a special grease also ensure optimum protection of the bearings against dirt and sand. In the fly reels, type X thin-ring bearings are installed. Thanks to their unique internal geometry, these so-called four-point bearings allow radial loads, axial loads in both directions as well as torque loads individually or in any combination. "The load ratings of thin-section bearings for radial and axial loads are very satisfactory in practice," confirms Leen Huisman.
Further branches for thin-ring bearings
“The uniqueness of the ultra-slim thin section bearings is that the extremely thin cross-section enables significant space and weight savings,” explains Ulrich Schroth, Business Unit Manager Value Added Products at Rodriguez. "Accordingly, the thin section bearings are also used in applications such as space travel, the semiconductor industry and medical technology." With diameters of 35 to 200 mm, these thin section bearings offer a particularly small cross section of just 2,5 to 3 mm.
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