Ball bearings for angle pieces

A dental bearing must withstand the most extreme conditions and is at the same time one of the most crucial components for the performance of a dental instrument.

Speeds of up to 500,000 rpm, vibrations, attacks by heat (sterilization) or different cleaning substances, as well as penetrating contamination are major challenges for such special ball bearings.

In order to meet these high requirements, we like to use, among other things, quality bearings from myonic®, which impress with their quality and durability.

If the drill "hits" or the angle piece makes a rasping noise, precise work is no longer possible. This is often an indication of worn ball bearings that have too much play and therefore no longer center the head drive correctly. The intermediate drives also sometimes run very roughly.

After replacing the bearings, the play is reduced to a minimum and the angle piece runs smoothly and quietly again.

What is the difference between angular contact ball bearings and deep groove ball bearings?

• Angular contact ball bearings enable higher speeds with reduced friction. These ball bearings have raceways in the inner and outer rings that are offset from one another in the direction of the bearing axis. They are particularly suitable for bearings that have to accommodate combined loads, such as simultaneous radial loads and axial loads.

• Deep groove ball bearings are the most commonly used ball bearings. They are particularly versatile. They operate with little friction, are known for their quiet running and low vibration levels. This means that these ball bearings are also suitable for high speeds. Deep groove ball bearings are primarily intended to absorb radial forces.

What are ball cages and what is their function?

The ball cage has the task of keeping the balls in the ball bearing separated from each other around the pitch circle of the bearing.
In order to find the optimal solution for any ball bearing, there are many different designs of ball cages for quality bearings, which differ both in their construction and in the material.

What is the difference between ceramic ball bearings and steel ball bearings?

For ceramics, aqueous media act like lubricants. The friction values ​​can usually be stabilized at a low level. Wear is lower, so that durability is generally extended. They are often used in the dental field because they do not rust and are also light.

In terms of load capacity and achievable speed, ceramic ball bearings have disadvantages compared to steel bearings.

Metals have a good combination of hardness and elasticity. Ceramics are very hard, but have less elasticity. In addition, the heat dissipation of ceramics is worse than that of metal. This is why ceramic ball bearings are also limited in terms of the maximum rotation speed.

What causes dental ball bearings to break?

Ball bearings are wearing parts and wear out over time.

The strong thermo-mechanical load also causes ball bearings to wear out more quickly, but this cannot be avoided. The durability depends heavily on the quality and care/cleaning. If the bearings are not sufficiently oiled and therefore rinsed, the bearings may break due to the build-up of encrustation.

Fall damage often also leads to bearing breakage.

When is it worth changing only the bearings and not the entire head or intermediate drive?

As long as the collet still has high holding values ​​or the collet is replaced, it makes sense to re-bearing the head drive.

The ball bearings in intermediate drives often run very roughly. These can often be replaced, but the gears should also be checked and replaced if necessary.

There is a bearing puller for removing the old bearings and a bearing press for installing the new bearings.