Self-clinching bearings that can be mounted directly and permanently into sheet steel as thin as 1mm are also self-aligning

Self-clinching bearings that reduce the cost of mounting are now available to UK OEMs via Unimatic Engineers, which has signed a distribution agreement with manufacturers Spyraflo of Georgia in the USA. The advantage of self-clinching bearings is that they can be mounted directly and permanently into sheet steel as thin as 1mm (0.04 inches).

Cold flow of the sheet material around and into the bearing's retainer ensures a solid installation.

These bearings are also self-aligning which gives users quick and easy shaft alignment, longer bearing life, reduced warranty issues and smoother running shafts.

Unimatic is a specialist technical distributor that focuses on mechatronic sub-systems for OEMs and end users.

Managing Director Martin Stevens explains: 'In today's economy engineers rarely have the time or luxury to design things from the ground up.

Instead they are increasingly looking for integrated systems that provide simple fit and forget solutions to their needs.
Spyraflo's self-clinching bearings are a superb example of mechatronic engineering, so complement our existing product portfolio perfectly.' The deal Stevens has signed covers the UK and Ireland and forms part of a network of national distributors that covers Europe and Asia.

Patrick Welch travelled from Georgia to carry out product training and meet some existing and potential customers: 'The reception has been great, nearly everyone that Unimatic has introduced me to has seen an immediate use for self-clinching bearings,' Patrick said.

'The key benefits they identify include that the mounting hole does not have to be to precision dimensions and that a minimum footprint is required.

Additionally potential users like the fact that a bearing mounting block is not required for the needle roller bearings and that our self-clinch products are available with plastic, bronze, needle roller and ball bearings.

'People are already familiar with self-aligning bearings, and self-clinching is a straightforward (if large) conceptual leap from there.' design engineers often find that it costs more in time, money and effort to install and support a bearing than it does to buy the bearing itself, particularly if the bearing is fitted into sheet material.

Spyraflo overcomes this by effectively building a housing around their bearings.

The external design of the housing provides the self-clinching effect and internally it holds the bearing with up to ñ5ø of inclination to compensate for misalignment so that dimensional tolerance of the mounting hole is not critical.

Engineers from Spyraflo and Unimatic have already identified a shortlist of those most likely to benefit from self-clinch / self-align technology.

These include OEMs with production volumes from very low to 100,000 or more, machines destined for use in a clean environment, applications where extra weight cannot be tolerated, price critical designs, low maintenance equipment and consumer products where visual appearances are critically importance.

Amongst these are: vending machine, fitness equipment, video and gaming machines, all types of paper handing equipment, desktop printers, film processing machines, garden and agricultural machinery, hand tools, aerospace applications etc.