Short Description
Ball bearings can be tested in a wide range of parameters and environments at AAC. For testing over wide temperatures but lower testing durations the devices “SALOTTE” and “HADES” are used. For very long term testing from room temperature to +300°C the “BBT” is used. The “BBT2-frames” allow to test also very small amplitudes (swivelling). In addition to those devices, two more vacuum tribometers can be adopted to test ball bearings: the Cryo-Tribometer (offering room temperature down to 4 Kelvin) and the High-Temperature-Vacuum Tribometer (offering room temperature to +700°C).
Contact Person
Aerospace & Advanced Composits GmbH
Research Services
Determination of the torque of ball bearings
Methods & Expertise for Research Infrastructure
The torque of ball bearings is an important parameter for space applications. Environments from vacuum, non-aggressive gases (e.g. He, CO2) under controllable pressures (e.g. to simulate Martian environment) to air with controlled humidity and different temperature ranges need to be addressed for full qualification.