One of the most critical bearing applications in the aerospace industry is where machinery requires motion control on manned space flight missions. The UK and European space sector is thriving and have recently witnessed substantial growth and investment. One good example of this thriving era is the rise of the Oxford Space Cluster. From in-depth research regarding space science to global innovation to providing commercial solutions, this facility is known to be the UK’s leading and most prominent space technology gateway. Today, the Harwell Space Cluster forms an indispensable part of the space sector, in the UK, comprising more than 100 organisations, employing approximately 1400 people with a contribution of £5.7billion to the GDP of the UK.
A prominent name in the field of precision bearing specialists is CARTER MANUFACTURING LTD., the European Master Distributor of USA-based Napoleon Bearings. Located close to the Harwell site, Carter has been supplying state-of-the-art Napoleon bearings, to the space and aerospace sector. So, what exactly does Napoleon offer to the space sector that other manufacturers cannot? It provides a crucial advantage of ‘Space Heritage’, which is a highly ranked supplier status, in the space industry sector. The Napoleon has not only supplied technical components for life-critical space applications, to support Carter projects by the European ESA but also played a pivotal role in both NASA missions in the USA.
The representation of Napoleon Bearings, who are recognized as one of the manufacturers of choice for the most critical bearing applications, enables Carter to pass on unparalleled expertise gained from manned USA space flight missions to similar projects for their UK and European customers. Consequently, from low earth orbit to Mars exploration and beyond, outer space-approved bearings, along with other key components are helping customers to confidently explore and conquer new frontiers.
In addition to supplying the highest specification bearings to its UK and European clients, Carter have also supplied components such as Rod Ends and Aerospace Bearing Tools for the Thales satellite project, Cam Followers for the Mars Rover project, along with bearings for deployable antennas for other critical space exploration projects.
Carter Manufacturing Ltd. has proudly supplied bearing products & tools for many critical aerospace applications. This includes LOX turbo pumps and circulators, reaction wheels, launch vehicle satellites, liquid methane pumps, door latches, solar array gear box mechanisms, and multiple other space components.
To ensure peace of mind for its global customers, Carter is accredited to ISO9001 and has complied with all the requirements of AS9120 with flow down from AS9100. Moreover, their bearings are also supplied with AS9102 Aerospace First Article Inspection documentation. This does not only comprise traceability reports for all raw materials and specialized processes but also encompasses a complete analysis. The talented team of engineers, at Carter, possesses a deep understanding of the testing and quality requirements, crucial to getting a new bearing design and its components validated.
The engineers at Carter use a variety of complex software to create industry-leading customized bearing designs for you. SolidWorks is utilized to create custom tailor-made bearing designs while Carter’s proprietary bearing application software governs the theoretical performance of the bearing. Moreover, analytics-based reporting software is used to deliver comprehensive reports, support global customers and help them take well-informed design decisions. Carter also excels in technical bearing services and support through FEA analysis & Data interpretation that paves the way for the optimization of mechanical performance.