Performance of Ceramic Bearings in High Speed Turbine Application

High speed precision ball bearings, like those used in machine tool spindles, can have serious problems associated with spin or gyroscopic moment of the rolling elements. The use of low density, silicon nitride ceramic rolling elements reduces these problems. This report presents performance test results of bearings with silicon nitride balls, and steel balls, in a high speed turbine application, using oil jet, and oil mist lubrication methods.