Angular contact ball bearings generally consist of an inner ring, rolling elements and a cage. The cage, also known as a "separator", can not only separate the rolling elements at uniform intervals, but also guide the movement track of the balls and reduce friction. In the actual selection process, different cage materials can be selected for angular contact ball bearings to meet the requirements of different working conditions. So, what are the common types of cages?

Common Cage Materials for Angular Contact Ball Bearings

1. Brass Cage: It is a conventional type of cage. It has advantages such as high strength, resistance to high temperatures (above 200 °C), and strong anti-deformation ability. It is generally used in high-speed and heavy-load scenarios, such as the main shafts of machine tools. Due to the high density of copper material, it may increase the rotational inertia.

2. Steel Cage: It is one of the most widely used materials for angular contact ball bearings. Its main characteristics are simple structure and low cost. It is mainly used in low-speed and medium-speed machines. The steel cage has sufficient strength to support the rolling elements and maintain the stable position of the balls at the same time. If a coating is applied to the surface, the friction can be further reduced.

3. Light Alloy Cage: Such as aluminum alloy or titanium alloy, it is light in weight and has small inertia. It is suitable for fields with extremely high weight reduction requirements, such as aero engines. However, the high-temperature resistance of the alloy material is slightly inferior to that of brass.

4. Nylon Cage: It is favored by many manufacturers for its characteristics such as light weight, low friction, smooth operation, and low cost. Moreover, it can reduce noise and power loss, and is suitable for low-speed equipment with low noise requirements, such as sewing machines and food machinery. In addition, the self-lubricating property of nylon material helps to reduce the friction and wear problems during the operation of the bearing.

5. Other Special Materials: Such as carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), which combines light weight and high strength and is applied in high-end fields.

How to Select the Cage of Angular Contact Ball Bearings?

Using different cages for angular contact ball bearings will have different impacts on performance such as temperature and rotational speed. When making a selection, it is necessary to comprehensively evaluate the requirements of the working conditions, and then select the appropriate cage material. Some reference situations for selection are as follows:

1. In high-speed working conditions, it is preferable to choose lightweight materials, such as PA66 and aluminum alloy materials, to reduce the overall weight of the bearing, which is beneficial to increasing the rotational speed.

2. In a high-temperature environment, using a metal cage (brass/steel) will be more reliable. When necessary, it also needs to be used in combination with high-temperature lubricating grease.

3. In corrosive media: Engineering plastics or metal cages with a nickel-plated surface are relatively ideal choices.

The cage is an important part of the angular contact ball bearing. Even for the same model and specification, there can be multiple types of cages. Different cages will lead to differences in corresponding performance. Therefore, a comprehensive evaluation should be carried out during the selection process. If necessary, seek guidance from professional technicians to find the appropriate type of bearing.

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