Vacuum and high-temperature ball bearings
NF Bearings (deep groove ball bearings (radial), angular ball bearings, thrust bearings, etc.)
This is a ball bearing that can be used up to 350°C in a vacuum. By changing the metal of the bearing material or the self-lubricating materials used, it can withstand higher temperatures and atmospheric conditions.
As vacuum ball bearings, there are 1. silver-lead coated products, 2. polymer coated products, and 3. molybdenum disulfide coated products, but in terms of lifespan, NF bearings surpass all of these. Heat resistance largely depends on the base material of the bearings, but in terms of the heat resistance of the lubricants, NF bearings also outperform all of these. We take pride in being able to offer our products at a lower price compared to ball bearings 1 to 3. For high-speed rotation, we accommodate with NF metal using either a crown-type or a pressed-out type retainer.
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basic information
The use of oil-based lubricants in a vacuum is difficult. Therefore, many vacuum devices (such as thermal deposition equipment) either forcibly rotate SUS bearings under the term "no lubrication" or use bearings coated with silver or molybdenum disulfide. However, the lifespan of these coatings is short, and they peel off in a short time. Our NF bearings insert a long-lasting self-lubricating material (NF metal) between the balls in the bearing, continuously supplying a solid lubrication film to the inner ring, outer ring, and balls. As a result, they provide an exceptionally long lifespan that is unimaginable with various coated bearings. Additionally, the wear generated by the solid lubrication film created by NF metal is minimal, resulting in lower dust generation compared to silver-coated bearings. In many cases, the lifespan of NF bearings is not due to lubrication failure but rather deformation caused by the usage time and environment of the bearing material. If you are struggling with rotation or sliding in a vacuum, please consider "NF Bearings."
Price information
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Delivery Time
※Delivery times vary depending on the bearing model and specifications. Typically, it is 1 to 4 weeks.
Applications/Examples of results
It is widely used in the bearings of rotating fixtures for vacuum deposition devices. In particular, the bearings that support the planetary system have a lifespan of only 2 to 3 weeks under heat and load when using coated bearings, but there are examples of NF bearings being used for several months to over a year. Additionally, although it is not a bearing, in optical deposition devices, it is becoming common practice to place steel balls and cylindrical NF metal (referred to as NF pillow or miracle pillow) on the rails where the rotating fixture sits, allowing it to rotate. Some customers have been using the same NF metal for about 10 years (while replacing the steel balls). Since we only recently started selling them as ball bearings, we are looking to expand their applications moving forward.
Company information
We are exploring new materials with a focus on heat-resistant materials, using vacuum and heat as keywords. In particular, we are concentrating on the sales of high-temperature self-lubricating composite material "NF Metal" and its application products (such as sliding bearings and ball bearings) among materials for vacuum equipment. NF Metal is a sintered alloy that disperses various solid lubricants in a metal matrix. It is a super material that does not lose its lubrication performance up to 800°C in a vacuum. Since it is currently only applied in a limited number of vacuum devices, we are working to expand its applications. If there are lubrication issues with rotation or sliding in a vacuum, please consider the application of NF Metal. Additionally, NF Metal has also been developed as a material that can be used up to 800°C in the atmosphere by selecting solid lubricants and matrix metals.
