NIPPON SEIKO CORPORATION (hereinafter referred to as NSK) has succeeded in developing ROBUSTRIDETM, a precision single-row cylindrical roller bearing for machine tool spindles, which contributes to improved machine tool productivity.
This development will help improve the productivity of machine tools by increasing grease life and the limiting speed*1 of bearings, achieving longer bearing life and higher speeds, effectively reducing the frequency of bearing replacements, and expanding the range of speeds for use in grease lubrication*2, which has a lower consumption of electric power. Mass production of this product is scheduled to begin in 2025, and it is expected that by 2030, annual sales of 1 billion yen will be achieved globally.
Development Background
Against the backdrop of decarbonisation becoming a trend, grease lubrication, which consumes less electricity, is attracting attention in the industry as a lubrication method for bearings used in machine tool spindles. However, with grease lubrication, grease is prone to deterioration due to the lack of replenishment during operation, and the need to extend bearing life (i.e., increase grease life) has led to more frequent replacement of bearings and shorter maintenance intervals of the machine than with other lubrication methods.
In addition, since grease lubrication is more susceptible to deterioration at high speeds, and there is a problem of limited operation at high speeds compared to other lubrication methods, there is a growing demand for higher speeds (higher limiting speeds) for grease lubricated bearings.
Developed Product Technology
Increase in grease filling volume➤➤Improvement in grease life of bearings
Improvement of cage durability➤➤Increase in limiting speed of bearings
Enhancement of grease drainage➤➤Improvement of bearing grease break-in performance
Characteristics of the product
This development product achieves long bearing life by improving grease life and reduces the frequency of bearing replacement. In addition, by improving the durability of the cage, it enables high speed bearings with grease lubrication. In addition, it reduces the grease break-in operation time*3 and saves energy. Based on these features, machine tool productivity is improved.
Improved grease life: Up to 60% compared to conventional products ⬆︎
Increased limiting speed: Up to 20% higher than conventional products ⬆︎
Reduced grease break-in operation time: Reduced to approximately 1/3 compared to conventional products ⬇︎