Luoyang Newbee Transmission Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Newbee") recently officially released its independently developed high-speed bearing cage technology system. Based on a dual technical architecture of rolling element guidance and ring guidance, this achievement has successfully solved the problem of cage motion stability under high-speed operating conditions, providing a new solution for bearing applications in aerospace, high-end machine tools, and other fields.
In the core components of bearings, the guidance function of the cage directly determines the operating limit of high-speed bearings. The R&D team of Newbee found that when the bearing speed exceeds 10,000 rpm, the centrifugal force and collision force generated by the cage's "free movement" can cause the bearing temperature to rise by more than 120°C—a problem that has long been a technical pain point in the industry. In response, Newbee innovatively proposed a "dynamic load compensation guidance system." By adopting a circular convex point design on the contact surface between the cage and the ring rib, the traditional surface contact is transformed into point contact, reducing the friction coefficient by 42%. Verified by a third-party testing institution, this design can control the vibration noise of bearings during high-speed operation below 65 decibels.
Dual technical routes achieve full operating condition coverage: Newbee's cage technology adopts a dual-track strategy of "rolling element guidance + ring guidance." For medium-to-low speed conditions (≤8,000 rpm), the combination of a metal stamping cage and a PA66 engineering plastic cage optimizes the geometry of the pocket, increasing the rolling element guidance accuracy by 30%. For high-speed and rapid acceleration/deceleration scenarios (>8,000 rpm), the self-developed PEEK solid cage with a phenolic laminated fabric tube structure achieves millimeter-level dynamic guidance through the ring rib. Wind power bearing simulation tests show that this solution can still maintain roundness control within 0.5 mm at a speed of 15,000 rpm.
Collaborative innovation in materials and structure: In the material system, Newbee has broken through the limitations of traditional metal cages and developed a three-layer composite engineering material: the surface PTFE coating achieves self-lubrication, the middle PA46 matrix provides mechanical support, and the inner carbon fiber-reinforced structure suppresses deformation. This material combination enables the cage to maintain stable performance in the temperature range of -40°C to 150°C. In structural design, the original "honeycomb-shaped weight reduction groove" reduces the cage weight by 28%, effectively reducing the impact of centrifugal force. Meanwhile, through ANSYS simulation optimization, the strength of key stress concentration areas is increased by 50%.
Industry applications and technical prospects: Currently, Newbee's cage technology has achieved commercial breakthroughs in three major fields:
The turbine bearing cage provided for an aero-engine manufacturer successfully passed the rigorous test of continuous operation at 18,000 rpm for 72 hours.
The PPS cage solution applied to the main shaft of high-end machine tools extends the bearing life to 2.3 times that of traditional products.
In wind power pitch bearings, the integral stamping cage technology solves the problem of multi-ribbed circles, achieving roundness control of 0.3 mm.
Industry analysts point out that Newbee's technological breakthrough will boost the localization rate of high-speed bearings by 15%-20%.
" The essence of cage guidance technology is the precise control of dynamic mechanics," said Newbee's Technical Director at the release conference. "By integrating material gene engineering and digital twin technology, we are constructing a full-chain technical system of 'design-simulation-manufacturing-monitoring'." It is reported that the team is developing the next-generation cage integrated with intelligent sensors, planning to realize real-time monitoring of load distribution during bearing operation through built-in micro-sensors, providing key data support for industrial IoT scenarios.
Among the several functions of rolling bearing cages, the guidance function (guiding and driving rolling elements to run on the correct raceway) is particularly important, especially for high-speed bearings, which is almost one of the decisive restrictive factors.