How to Choose the Ring for Slew Bearing: An Expert Guide

Posted by CHW Forge Pvt Ltd. on January 31st, 2021

In large applications where rotations are repeated frequently, failure of bearings having a large diameter is common. The slewing ring bearingsmust be used in big equipment, like cranes, tunnel boring machines, excavators, etc., to handle high load spectrum. Slewing ring bearings have the capacity of handling a high load. The ring for slew bearing can handle combined loads, including radial, axial, and tilting movement.

Slew Bearings

Slewing ring bearings are also referred to as turntable bearings. There are two rings - one is the inner ring, and the other is the outer ring for slew bearing. Both rings are attached to each other and have small holes on them.

These holes are present to offer the fixation to the structure. Between both the rings, seals are provided to protect rolling elements. The size of the ring for slew bearing varies between 100 mm diameter to 15,000 mm diameter.

Slewing bearings are also used in several materials for handling welding turnover jigs, grapples, etc. Both inner and outer slewing rings are carbon and steel forged products. CHW Forge is one of South Asia’s leading forging companies.

This company is popularly known to deliver carbon steel and alloy steel rings for bearings. It offers high grade, and superior quality forged products. It manufactures slewing rings of different sizes, having a diameter ranging between 500 mm to 4,500 mm.

Forging is highly-preferred in automotive industries. There are several benefits of using forged products. They are robust and reliable, cost-effective, high metallurgical properties, and high tensile strength.

Extend the Life of Slewing Ring Bearings

Frequent breaking of bearings requires new bearing, which indeed, results in high cost. You can avoid the frequent infringement of bearings by maintaining them regularly. Follow the below steps to extend the life of slewing ring bearings.

1. Bearing Lubrication

You can extend the life of slew bearings by lubricating them at regular intervals with heavy grease. Apply the grease on the circumference of the bearing at specific intervals.

For slow-rotation equipment, like cranes, backhoes, etc., you must lubricate the slew bearing after every 100 hours of operation. Frequent lubrication is required for fast-rotating equipment, like boring machines.

2. Bolts

A torque check on bolts must include your routine maintenance work. Doing this will help you to maintain the appropriate preload level. A proper level of torque should be applied on mounting bolts.

You must check these bolts periodically to ensure that they have an excellent pretension. Bolts used in slew bearings are forged products.

3. Gear Lubrication

Large bearings generally have gear teeth. Lubricating gear teeth frequently is also essential for extending the life of slew bearings. Gear teeth carry out meshing action, which absorbs lubricant.

Therefore, it is necessary to lubricate the gear every eight hours for slow-rotating equipment. For rapid-rotating equipment, the gear should be lubricated often.

4. Seals

You must observe the seals on the bearing periodically to ensure that they are unbroken.

Forged products offer high mechanical properties, like tensile strength and ductility. They are profoundly resistant to heat and corrosion. Hence, slew bearings use inner and outer rings that are carbon or steel forged products.