A press manufacturer with a proven reputation for supplying high quality transport and manipulation systems for handling 10cm, 12cm and 15cm rectangular lithographic printing plates had a bearing problem on their latest design machine.

The decision had been taken early in the design to go with a 15mm diameter Needle Roller Bearing, however the costs, lack of alignment and excessive mounting area associated with a custom machined mounting block caused them multiple problems.

The company’s products, deliver, rotate, notch and feed the plates into the printing press. These plates are produced from extremely soft aluminium and therefore must be handled with care and precision. For this reason their engineers pay great attention to bearing selection as they are a key element in creating the smooth shaft motion at both the shaft ends and at the intermittently located pulleys and drive belts. This smooth motion being an essential element in delivering the plates to the press undamaged and accurately located.

The patented Spyraflo Self-Aligning Needle Roller bearings, which have ±5º static self-alignment, proved to be the ideal solution. The ability of the bearings to effortlessly accommodate variances in shaft orientation and mounting surfaces proved invaluable, resulting in combined cost savings with enhanced performance.

Micromech is the UK and Eire distributor for these clever bearings, if you would like more information about them or perhaps a sample, then contact Alisia Cheery on 01376 333333 or email alisia@micromech.co.uk

‘A revolution in bearing Solutions’