Defence

At the core of our product line are the Silverthin Precision Thin Section Bearings that are ideal for defence applications requiring weight reduction and limited space. For satellite, radar, and microwave applications, Silverthin thin section bearings can handle radial, axial, and overturning moment loads simultaneously and provide stiffness with little rotating torque. These corrosion-resistant bearings are the ultimate choice for fighter jets, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), airlifts, cargo, and commercial aircraft, as well as for gun turrets, sonar equipment, radar mounts and vehicles used for security and ground combat.

Carter Manufacturing offer a variety of special bearing materials like stainless steel, silicon nitride balls, TIC balls, phenolic and PEEK cages to suit extreme environments in crucial military and defence applications.

Lightweight Slewing rings provide a variety of special advantages over ball and roller bearings, particularly in heavy-load defence and military applications that call for a lot of movement freedom. They offer 360-degree joint support for intricate load-bearing systems, enabling simultaneous motion on several axes. Military and defence equipment that has to precisely steer huge loads prefer UNASIS slewing ring bearings as quality is paramount in the defence industry. 

UNASIS Ultra Light slewing bearings offer important benefits in military turret applications where weight and space are at a premium and corrosion resistance is essential. They consist of 420 stainless steel raceways inserted in aluminium thin support rings, allowing for a bearing to be up to 60% lighter than the one made entirely of steel while having a large diameter and high load capacity. Moreover, other bearing material options like stainless steel, tempered steel, and non-ferrous metals can also be used as per the customer’s specifications and application needs.

In a nutshell, our range of lightweight slewing bearings is ideal for military applications as it offers high durability, low weight, low and smooth rotation resistance values, affordable maintenance and repair requirements, resistance to small-calibre weapons, low heat signature etc.

In the armoured vehicles industry, Cam followers and Cam yoke rollers are used by engineers and designers when applications call for the effective handling of heavy loads. Carter Cam followers are bearings specifically designed to support linear motion applications that cater to both horizontal and vertical movements. The integral stud on our Cam followers not only aids in producing superior designs but also enables quick and easy assembly of equipment with minimal component costs.

Carter offers a wide selection of Cam followers, Yoke rollers and Hi-Roller™ idle rollers from stock. Moreover, custom bearings can also be designed and manufactured to customer requirements on industry-leading shortest production lead times. Military applications include Cam locking mechanisms in door-locking assembles to protect personnel from blast shock, guidance mechanisms in turrets, heavy-duty linear guidance mechanisms, lifting equipment and robotic solutions for bomb disposal.

Standard catalogue bearings aren't usually appropriate for critical military applications as they are exposed to extreme environments. These include applications involving high and low temperatures, shock loading, corrosive environments in the ranges of the earth's temperature, and weather patterns on land, at sea, and in outer space. Using SolidWorks, our highly skilled bearing engineers design specialised aircraft bearing solutions that are unique to each project. Furthermore, we validate the theoretical bearing performance for our projects with the help of our bearing application software. We also provide in-depth reports that better educate our defence industry clients and support crucial business decisions. Our technical assistance is broadened by FEA analysis and our specialised understanding of how to interpret this data to optimize mechanical performance.

The best spherical bearings, rod end bearings, and journal bearings from the outer reaches of space and beyond are available at Carter Manufacturing Ltd. With more than 20 years of experience and a reputation for excellence among top clients in the aerospace and military industries, Carter is at the forefront of technology because of its use of cutting-edge production machinery and computer-aided designs. Thanks to our one-on-one dedicated customer service and commitment to supporting engineers by prototyping new applications, Carter is fully equipped to fulfil your military bearing application needs.

Accurate installation and testing of Spherical bearings, rod end bearings, and journal bearings are crucial to the operation of many military equipment applications. This is essential to maximise a bearing's performance and operational safety. The aftermath of a poor installation can be disastrous, whether you are installing a bearing in an airframe assembly, the main shaft of a jet engine, or a suspension system. Carter Manufacturing offer the complete range of UNASIS Aerospace Bearing Tools, enabling you to install your bearing correctly the first time, every time. UNASIS continue to serve the defence and aerospace sector by maintaining a large selection of bearing tools in store and collaborating with its clients to develop customised tooling solutions for certain applications.