Application of thrust ball bearings in rolling mills

Nov 21, 2023

The rolling mill is an essential mechanical equipment in industrial production mainly used for the forming and processing of metal sheets. Bearings play a very critical role during the operation of the rolling mill. As a rolling mill bearing type, thrust ball bearings are widely used in rolling mills because of their unique structure and performance. This article will detail the application of thrust ball bearings in rolling mills.

Structure and performance of thrust ball bearings

The Thrust ball bearing is a sliding bearing comprising one or two pairs of oppositely installed seat rings. Its characteristic is that it can withstand axial load. This bearing is mainly composed of steel balls, cages, and races. Among them, the steel ball rolls along the rolling surface of the raceway under the guidance of the bearing cage and simultaneously bears the axial and radial loads.

Thrust ball bearings have the following advantages:

It can effectively bear axial load and is suitable for rolling mill equipment that can withstand large loads;

The rolling surface of the seat ring can reduce frictional resistance and improve the operating efficiency of the bearing;

Compact structure, able to adapt to rolling mill designs with limited space;

Adapt to high-speed operation and reduce vibration and noise.

Application of thrust ball bearings in rolling mills

Roughing mill

The rough rolling mill is the first process on the rolling mill production line and is mainly responsible for the preliminary rolling of metal billets. Due to the considerable deformation resistance of the metal blank during the rough rolling process, the load-bearing capacity of the rolling mill must be high. Thrust ball bearings have high load-bearing ability and stability in this harsh working environment and can ensure the regular operation of the roughing mill.

Finishing mill

The finishing mill is the last process on the rolling mill production line and is responsible for finely processing metal blanks. During the finishing rolling process, the deformation resistance of the metal blank is small, but higher precision and stability of the rolling mill are required. Thrust ball bearings can adapt to such high-precision and high-stability requirements and ensure the regular operation of the finishing mill.

Backup roller bearing seat

The backup roll is an integral part of the rolling mill. Its function is to support and rotate the work roll. The backup roll chock is one of the core components of the backup roll, and its operating stability has an essential impact on the performance of the entire rolling mill. The application of thrust ball bearings in the backup roller bearing seats can improve the stability and accuracy of the backup rollers, thereby improving the performance of the entire rolling mill.

Shearing machine

The shearing machine is a critical equipment on the rolling mill production line, responsible for cutting metal sheets to fixed lengths. During the shearing process, the blades of the shearing machine need to withstand significant impact loads and vibrations. The application of thrust ball bearings in shearing machines can improve the load-bearing capacity and stability of the device and ensure the smooth progress of the shearing process.

Conclusion

As a sliding bearing, thrust ball bearing has broad application prospects in rolling mills. Its unique structure and performance characteristics enable it to perform well in working environments with large loads, high precision, and high stability. By analyzing the application of thrust ball bearings in different rolling mill equipment such as roughing mills, finishing mills, backup roll chocks, and shears, the following conclusions can be drawn:

Thrust ball bearings are suitable for various types of rolling mill equipment and can meet the needs of different working conditions;

In harsh working environments, thrust ball bearings have high load-bearing capacity and stability, which can ensure the regular operation of the rolling mill;