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Engineer to Engineer
July 01st, 2021
At Saint-Gobain Bearings we are experts in the development and design of plain bearings and tolerance rings with over 50 years of experience. Our engineered components are designed alongside your engineers from initial concept through to a production component and then supporting the manufacturing process.
As markets evolve, new technologies and new customer demands place a growing emphasis on product development. There is a constant need to redesign, develop and change with the market to keep your products relevant and in demand.
In the automotive market we see the onset of electric vehicles and the preferred location of the battery being on the underside of the vehicle, thus enabling the differential tunnel to be removed. This opens new possibilities on how to configure the interior of a vehicle as well as the exterior of the passenger vehicle or light commercial vehicles.
Saint-Gobain are the experts in designing and developing with engineers and design houses for all of the bearing pivot points that are required in today’s products; ebikes, scouters, coffee machines, robots, conveyor belts and more.
The knock-on impact of on-going technical developments is the increase the end user’s expectations. Bearings should be designed and fitted correctly to eliminate N.V.H. issues and to ensure that the product is as good at the end of life as at the beginning.
Saint-Gobain are a global bearings supplier for automotive interior applications, steering and hinges for over 40 years. There are many more innovative designs to the products that Saint-Gobain supply. Below are a few of the designs that are being manufactured for unique current and future applications. This is only a select few, the extent of Saint-Gobain’s design capabilities coupled with our multi-industry experienced engineers enable us to support you in creating optimum products.
Custom-designed products
NORGLIDE® Bearings
Flanged Bearing
Stamped Bearing
Step Flange
Petal Flange
Tapered Conical
Saint-Gobain Bearings collaborate closely with you, engineer to engineer. We listen carefully to understand your application, the concomitant difficulties and general requirements. Above, you can see a number of variations we deliver our NORGLIDE® Bearings in. You are free to choose from multiple sizes and shapes with fully conductive and non-conductive materials. The “step flange” shown above uses a non-conductive material but allows for conductivity to flow through the bush using the unique notch design. Within the step design, this can overcome the issue that is associated with linear tolerances. Further, bearings offer you the ability to control torque. The “petal flange” is a unique design that is available for applications that need a larger area of surface on the flange. The “tapered conical” is ideal for situations where the joint has to be split or taken apart. It enables the joint to be refitted without any issues of damaging the PTFE on the bush whilst retaining the same torque after re-assembly.
It becomes obvious: NORGLIDE® Bearings can be supplied in innumerable variations, custom-designed for your specific needs. Get in touch with us to experience the exceptional exchange between engineers, resulting in the perfect product for your unique application.
RENCOL® Tolerance Rings
Crown Ring
Duplex SV
Half Tab
HV Type
SV light, low torque
SV Type
RENCOL® Tolerance Rings are utilised to join cylindrical mating components, to compensate tolerances as well as to simplify assemblies. They function as various tools, e.g. fastener, slip clutch, torque transfer or positioning. Based on the required function and the application system, the RENCOL® Tolerance Ring is designed and manufactured to your individual needs.
As the images above visualize, the tolerance ring can come in numerous sizes and shapes. This includes the basic variation of HV and SV type. The housing variable (HV) tolerance ring’s waves point to the inside of the ring, while the ring is open in the free state. For the shaft variable (SV) tolerance ring, it is the other way round; the waves point to the outside and the ring is closed in the free state. Additionally, the RENCOL® product family works with “waves” to overcome large tolerances eliminating N.V.H. issues. Flanged tolerance rings can be used for axial control or limiters.
Clearly, the RENCOL® Tolerance Rings can be delivered in different shapes and sizes, fulfilling numerous functions to get the best out of your individual system. Talk to our engineers about your specific field of application. We are happy to listen to your requirements and develop the most suitable solution with and for you.
SPRINGLIDE™ Spring Energised Bearings
Finger Design
Slotted Rib
Wave design
Stamped Design
As our two previous product families, the SPRINGLIDE™ Spring Energised Bearings are uniquely designed for your application and requirements. This innovation combines the benefits of NORGLIDE® Bearings and RENCOL® Tolerance Rings. The selection of images above shows how different our SPRINGLIDE™ parts can be manufactured. The “finger” is a unique design that can be used for linear sliding applications where you have a need to take up tolerances between the mating components. The “slotted rib” is designed for linear or radial applications where you want to control low levels of sliding force or rotational torque. The “wave design” uses the tolerance ring technology and is able to control rotational torque where higher torque requirements are needed. Within the “stamped design”, we at Saint-Gobain utilize our experience in stampings and PTFE. This enables us to design and develop unique innovative designs which often eliminate further components.
The examples displayed above clearly show that we at Saint-Gobain are able to design and manufacture various shapes and geometries with different materials. This allows us to supply our customers with solutions to their individual applications, solving their specific challenges. By collaborating with us, engineer-to-engineer, we can learn from each other. We will listen closely to you to understand your application as well as the difficulties you are facing. This way we will be able to create the best solution possible – custom-designed for your project.
Expertise and testing-capabilities
Within our business, we have a global network of application engineers and technical support personnel that are supported by local in house test facilities in numerous locations around the globe. These are able to electronically simulate designs and lifetime capability through F.E.A. or by manual life testing.
The Saint-Gobain engineers will use their vast experience and knowledge to co-develop with the design teams to ensure optimum fits and tolerances. Indeed, on many occasions, this has resulted in a reduction of parts, easier assembly and longer lifetime of assemblies.
Once designs have been finalised, the Saint-Gobain engineers are able to make and issue drawings of the product designs to which you are free to use in your own drawing blocks.
From this, it is possible to make samples for you to test the designs. All of the samples that are made are manufactured from production intent materials. Although these samples will be made by hand, they will be made from the proposed production material and in the same process as production parts. The advantage of having parts that are made from the same process (but by hand) is the following: they can be made with the same production material and to the same tolerances. Therefore, designers and engineers will have confidence and accurate data when completing initial pre-production tests for lifetime, corrosion, N.V.H. tests etc.
The Saint-Gobain engineers will work with you, engineer to engineer, through all stages and share the experience as well as knowledge. This ensures that you have the right material in the right place.
Get your project started
If you are looking to develop a new concept or a production part for anything for the vehicle, interior or exterior, Saint-Gobain have the material and designs for each application. Contact us to boost your project – right from the beginning. Collaborate closely with us, engineer to engineer, to find the right cost effective solution for your application.
Contact us by filling out the contact form or send us an email: makingabigdifference@saint-gobain.com.