The Super Ball Bushing Bearing has been the industry standard for self-aligning linear bearings for over twenty years. This bearing provides three times the load capacity or 27 times the travel life of conventional linear bearings. This dramatic improvement in bearing performance significantly reduces downtime and maintenance, while increasing machine reliability.

Thomson Industries, Inc. invented the Super Ball Bushing Bearing with many unique design features. Besides the dramatic increase in load capacity, the Super Ball Bushing Bearing is self-aligning, light weight and adjustable with a low coefficient of friction (Figure 1).

The bearing plates are hardened, bearing quality steel with ball conforming grooves (Figure 2). The groove is slightly larger than the ball diameter, providing an optimal area for ball contact. The greater ball to bearing plate contact provides the increase in load capacity or travel life.

The bearing plates are also designed to float radially (Figure 3). When the bearing is mounted in an adjustable housing, selected fit-ups can be achieved on the 60 Case LinearRace (shaft).

The Super Ball Bushing Bearing plates pivot .5º about their centers (Figure 4) to assure smooth entry and exit of the precision bearing balls. Each plate aligns itself automatically to compensate for inaccurate housing bore alignment, base flatness or carriage machining. This
provides uniform ball loading, smooth ball recirculation and a constant coefficient of friction.

The Super Ball Bushing Bearing’s outer sleeve and retainer are made of wear-resistant, low-friction engineering polymer. It reduces inertia and operating noise levels significantly.