Silverthin thin section bearings were initially developed for use in the aerospace and defence sector, where lightness, space-saving and ultra-precise smooth movement are critical in many applications. Key amongst these applications, and areas in which Silverthin thin section bearings are proving themselves in so many installations worldwide, are bearings for use in satellites, radar systems and microwave systems. Here, the many advantages of Silverthin bearings combine to deliver design teams with the levels of accuracy, repeatability and lightweight that they demand.
Silverthin thin section bearings for satellite, radar and microwave applications can cope with radial, axial, and overturning moment loads simultaneously and deliver stiffness with low rotational torque. Special casing design and advanced roller manufacturing techniques combine to provide satellite and radar engineers with bearings that they can rely on in some of the world’s most demanding high-precision environments.
Silverthin thin section bearings are versatile and can be integrated into components manufactured from a variety of materials including steel, stainless steel, aluminum, advanced composites and carbon fibre, making them suitable for the aggressive environments and extreme temperature variations often found in the applications they have been carefully specified for. The list of typical applications is extensive but examples include military communication systems, commercial security and surveillance solutions and radar rotary joints.
Thin section bearings from Silverthin have a large bore with a small cross-section to offer many design advantages in the confined spaces of satellites and radar systems: for example, the use of a large diameter hollow shaft in place of a smaller diameter solid version can achieve significant weight savings and allows designers to route associated components such as fibreoptic, data and signal cables more effectively too.
The Carter Satellite & Radar thin section precision bearing team is located near Oxford, in the midst of a high-technology cluster featuring motorsport, communications, nuclear, medical, defence and aerospace industries centred around the Thames Valley. Carter’s expert staff are all highly trained engineers and provide customers with an unrivalled blend of experience, ability and expertise. Critically, the experienced team also provides customers with unique access to Carter’s R&D Department, as well as a bespoke SolidWorks design programme. This is backed up with what we believe is the most advanced bearing simulation software for satellite, microwave and radar applications anywhere, which all customers have access to.
Typical applications in which Silverthin thin section bearings have excelled include:
- Mobile battlefield radar systems
- X, Ku and Ka Band specialist transmission/receiver installations
- Mobile battlefield target acquisition & designator systems
- Mobile battlefield microwave systems
- Mobile land based tactical terminals
- Airborne lightweight radar systems
- Aerial surveillance and ELINT platforms
- Seagoing military and civilian radar systems
- Seagoing target acquisition & designator systems
- Undersea radar installations
- Underwater mapping and contour following systems
- Military & civilian satellites
- Portable antenna systems
- Heavy duty fixed antenna systems
- Commercial broadcast satellite systems
- IATA approved mobile media broadcast systems
- Microwave system rotary joints