| What shape are ball bearings? They are shaped | | | | are called roller bearings (Yes, finally something |
| like a ball, as everyone knows, right? | | | | that makes sense!). Other bearings look just like |
| The funny thing about what everyone knows is | | | | metal tubes, called plain bearings or bush bearings. |
| that everyone can be wrong. For instance, | | | | They look like sawed off pipe or tube (something |
| everybody thinks that the America's Cup is an | | | | my metal tube bending client would be turning into |
| ocean-sailing race, and yet the Swiss managed to | | | | architecturally glamorous structural supports). |
| win the Cup. For those readers who are | | | | The principle of bearings is the same principle |
| geographically-challenged, Switzerland is a | | | | behind the wheel: things move better by rolling |
| land-locked country comprised entirely of | | | | than by sliding. They are called "bearings" because |
| mountains. | | | | they bear the weight of the object, such as an |
| What does this have to do with ball bearings. | | | | inline skate or the head of dentist's drill, allowing |
| Very little, I suspect, but balls have very little to | | | | the object to glide over them with incredible ease |
| do with ball bearings, either. Ball bearings look | | | | and speed. Unlike wheels, they don't turn on an |
| more like hula hoops. But don't try using them for | | | | axel; they turn on themselves. |
| that - you will find them inconveniently heavy and | | | | You can see this in action with some great |
| painfully small. | | | | cut-away pictures of bearings. |
| You can view a picture of a ball bearing in the | | | | The balls or rollers spin on themselves inside the |
| middle of this ball bearing supplier's page. | | | | bearing, reducing friction for the machine parts |
| So what are those stunted metal tube donuts | | | | attached to them. It's much neater than using a |
| called ball bearings for anyway? Are they used as | | | | bucket of oil, especially in dental equipment, and |
| a spare wheel? Do they hold in evil shop-floor | | | | significantly more reliable than hamsters on a |
| spirits? No, they help things move more efficiently. | | | | wheel. |
| In an early demonstration of bearing usage, three | | | | Once upon a time, all bearings were metal - like a |
| ladies pulled a locomotive (It was just a | | | | metal tube or pipe with metal balls stuck inside. |
| demonstration, not a career development). | | | | These days, more and more are made of |
| Many bearings look very similar, whether they are | | | | ceramic or even plastic (like everything else in this |
| ball bearings, roller bearings or other bearings. | | | | world!). |
| What?! Other bearings? | | | | If you are still confused about why ball bearings |
| What is a ball bearing, anyway? | | | | are not shaped like balls, just remember that you |
| Ball bearings are formed with an outer ring, an | | | | drive on a parkway and park on a driveway. And |
| inner ring, a cage or a retainer inside, and a rolling | | | | you can even try sailing your sea-craft through |
| element inside, typically a ball (which is why they | | | | the Swiss Alps. But don't try playing a game of |
| are called ball bearings). Roller bearings are formed | | | | one-on one basketbearing. |
| using a roller instead of a ball, which is why they | | | | |