tech talk
Learn more at www.igus.com/info/slewing-ring-overview
Slewing ring bearings are used in rotating and
turntable applications. Traditionally, slewing ring
bearings were designed in a style similar to ball
bearings. Today, however, there are many newer and
more successful versions on the market, including
sliding slewing rings made with an iglide
®
polymer
liner, hard-anodized aluminum rings or stainless-steel
rings. The success of slewing ring bearings directly
correlates to how the system is driven, therefore, it is
important to know what options are available. When
working with rotating or turntable applications, the
slewing ring bearings can be driven in the following
four ways.
Four Ways to Drive a
Slewing Ring Bearing
1. External gear: Most slewing ring manufacturers offer a geared option. igus
®
offers a spur-gear solution,
which complies with DIN3967. The mating gear for any slewing ring should be made of a material that is
softer than the actual gear itself. For example, a slewing ring that uses a gear made from anodized aluminum
would ideally have a mating gear made of POM. Aside from the fact that POM is softer than anodized
aluminum, this specific combination would make the system completely dry-running, which is an added
bonus. In comparison, a slewing ring that uses both a gear and a mating gear made of aluminum, or any
other metal, is ideal for intermittent movements. However, metal gears require constant lubrication, which is
costly, time-consuming and messy. If a slewing ring uses a mating gear made from steel, the gear should be
made of the same material in order to avoid damaging the slewing ring.
2. External belt: igus
®
offers three different belt options. T10 is the most cost-effective belt and is available in
a variety of widths. It can also handle up to 175 pounds of tension. AT10 is a slightly more expensive option,
as it can handle up to 290 pounds of tension. HTD8M is the most expensive of the three options because it
offers additional features such as lower clearance and extremely quiet operation. HTD8M can handle up to
85 pounds of tension.
AT10 T10
HTD8M
