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CERBEC® balls are 60% lighter than steel which can greatly reduce frictional losses leading to increased speed and life. As a ball rolls in a bearing, it is subject to a variety of motions caused by various forces (see image). Pure rolling motion results from contact with the inner and outer races moving under load. Since the ball is only contacting 2 points at any moment, it can also rotate about its axis like a globe. The combination of centrifugal force application loads and radius of curvature differences between inner and outer race cause balls spin and slip (in addition to pure rolling) due to gyroscopic moments created. As shown in the chart, frictional losses in a bearing steadily increase with speed. Rolling resistance increases due to larger and larger contact area between balls and outer races (centrifugal force). Gyroscopic and spin slip increases due to increasing gyroscopic moments on the ball. By simply
decreasing ball weight using a CERBEC ball (-60% mass vs. steel), all these frictional losses are greatly reduced. At the same speed lower frictional loss lead to lower operating temperature which extends lube life. Alternatively, speed can be significantly increased before operating temperature increases.
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