There are many, many companies in San Diego County that you have probably never heard of. They’re tucked away in industrial parks or on out-of-the-way properties that you don’t regularly drive by. But these businesses are a vital part of the San Diego economy, providing jobs for San Diegans as well as products and services that people around the world use. One such company is CBR Bearing, headquartered in Fallbrook. CBR Bearing is a small bearing manufacturing company that specializes in ceramic ball bearings.
What Are Ceramic Ball Bearings?
You may have never heard of ceramic ball bearings, and that’s understandable. They are a specialty product that not many people need. They are similar in construction to traditional steel bearings, but the balls in the ball bearings are made from silicon nitride (ceramic) rather than steel. (The inner and outer rings, as well as the cage, are still made of steel.)
Technically, these types of bearings are called ceramic hybrid ball bearings, because they are made of both steel and ceramic, but many people just refer to them as ceramic ball bearings.
What Are the Advantages of Ceramic Ball Bearings?
One of the main advantages of ceramic ball bearings is that they last longer—up to ten times longer—than steel bearings. That fact alone is enough for many people to make the switch. However, they also have the advantage of being electrically non-conductive, which all but eliminates the possibility of electrical arcing through the bearing. Finally, ceramic ball bearings perform with 40% less friction, resulting in higher efficiency and an increased RPM rating over a comparable steel bearing.
Charlie Rowlett, owner of CBR Bearing, says, “A quality bearing makes all the difference. At CBR, we use only high-quality, aerospace-grade ceramic balls in our bearings, which are incredibly durable. They won’t chip, fracture, or fail, even under harsh conditions.
Ceramic ball bearings can be a bit more expensive than their all-steel counterparts, but when you look at the advantages associated with ceramic balls, the extra cost is often worth it.
How Are Ceramic Ball Bearings Used?
Most of the ceramic ball bearings made by CBR are used in industrial electric motors—especially those that are controlled by variable frequency drives (VFDs). Equipment operators love them because there is less equipment downtime due to bearing failure, and they help their motors run more efficiently.
CBR’s bearings are also used in performance applications, such as motorcycle and kart racing. Rowlett explains, “Racers are always looking for that extra edge—that thing that will increase their speed even slightly. With ceramic bearings, racers can experience a performance gain of around 5% due to decreased friction, which results in less heat build-up. In addition, the speed rating can be 25% higher than a steel ball bearing because of the lighter weight of the ceramic ball.”
What Makes CBR Bearing a Great Company?
CBR isn’t the only company making ceramic ball bearings, but they are one of the best! Customers return to them time and time again for their quality bearings and excellent customer service. CBR keeps a large number of bearings in stock, ready to ship out same or next day. If they don’t have what their customer needs on their shelves, they can manufacture it in house with short turnaround times.
Learn more about CBR bearing by visiting their website: https://www.cbrbearing.com/