Page 221 - Making things move_ DIY mechanisms for inventors, hobbyists, and artists

Chapter 7 Bearings, Couplers, Gears, Screws, and Springs 199

FIGURE 7-9 Right and wrong ways to load radial and thrust FIGURE 7-10 Angular
bearings contact bearings can handle
radial and thrust loads.

• Spherical bearings Spherical bearings have a spherical-shaped outer race
that increases surface contact with the housing and boosts load capacity while
accommodating misalignment. They handle radial and thrust loads, so are
often used when these loads are present in combination with some
misalignment, as on the gym equipment in Figure 7-11.

• Combination bushings Flanged bushings (see Figure 7-12) handle both
radial and axial loads. You can install these just like radial bushings, and then
use the flange as a thrust washer and/or spacer.