Product category:
Materials Testing
News Release from: SKF UK | Subject: Spindle assembly at Raymarine
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 11 November 2004
A perfect spin on product design
SKF was able to supply a new spindle assembly to a marine equipment company that not only surpassed the customer's technical needs, but also met its price demands.
Thanks to a complete understanding of its customer's needs and significant prior research work, SKF was able to supply a new spindle assembly to a major marine equipment company that not only surpassed the customer's technical needs, but also met its price demands The customer, Raymarine, was in the process of designing a new anemometer
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 19 Apr 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Its design brief called for a decrease in the measuring point of wind speed, better protection for the bearings from the effect of salt water and an increase in service life.
It also needed two such spindles, to cope with both wind speed and direction.
SKF had to address these needs in combination with a ready-to-mount, self-contained, maintenance-free design that exhibited low friction.
It set up a special design team, with members from different disciplines within the company, and set to work.
Raymarine originally presumed that it would need a hybrid (ceramic) bearing for the spindle, but after significant analysis and development work SKF was able to offer a complete unit that comprised two shielded stainless steel deep groove ball bearings, a shaft, springs and a two-part, snap together plastic housing.
Shielded bearings were used instead of separate seals because additional seals would increase friction on the shaft.
A labyrinth seal was used to prevent water ingress.
Benefits to Raymarine from the new solution from SKF include a reduced number of suppliers, fewer problems and a longer life.
This project was a success because SKF was able to call on all of its expertise across a great many disciplines.
The company was able to help with many facets of the anemometer's evolution from design and development through to its manufacture and assembly.
The end product meets all of the functional needs as well as offering Raymarine the advantages of reduced logistics and administrative costs. Request a free brochure from SKF UK ...
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