CAGES
The
retainer, also referred to as the cage or separator, is used to
separate and position the balls at equal intervals around the
bearing raceways. Retainers are available in two standard types,
according to the size and design of the bearing itself. The most
common is a 2-piece closed ball pocket design known as a ribbon retainer. The crown retainer is a single
piece open ball pocket design. For most bearing sizes, the retainer
type is as shown in the individual bearing
tables, and cannot be specified by the user. However, for
special applications, please contact a SWC engineer to discuss
retainer options.
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| CAGE
TYPES |
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The closed pocket design
of the ribbon retainer is the most common type. The material used is
300 series stainless steel. For low torque applications, a loose
clinched ribbon retainer may be
available.
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The standard metal crown
retainer is very light weight, with specially coined ball pockets to
reduce torque and provide smooth running characteristics. Material
used is 400 series stainless steel.
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Plastic crown retainers
have the highest speed ratings of any standard retainer type, but
have limited availability.
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Retainer materials other
than the standard 300/400 series stainless steel or plastic are
available for specific applications. Please contact SWC
concerning availability and compatibility of different retainer
types.
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