RBC offers a full line of airframe control ball bearings to the aerospace industry. RBC airframe control ball bearings conform to SAE-AS7949 (formerly MIL-B-7949) and many major OEM specifications. These bearings are of lightweight design, corrosion-resistant, grease-lubricated, and typically sealed.

Airframe control bearing rings and balls are made of hardened bearing alloy, AISI 52100, with all exposed surfaces, except bearing bore, caps and seals, plated for corrosion protection. For improved corrosion protection, RBC supplies bearings made of hardened stainless steel alloy, AISI 440C. This alloy may be passivated or plated with cadmium or zinc nickel for enhanced corrosion protection.

RBC supplies airframe control bearings in both “Standard” and “Precision” series. The prefix “M” in a bearing number indicates that it is of a precision series. Although designed and manufactured under demanding quality control requirements for airborne systems, these bearings have been successfully used in many industrial applications, where oscillatory movement, high loads, or corrosive environments are prevalent.

For more information on airframe control bearings, please consult RBC Customer Service at 866.RBC.AERO (866.722.2376) or view our Engineering Information.  For bearing specifications, please visit our Airframe Control Ball Bearing Engineering page.

RBC offers a full line of Mil Spec standards as well as specialty airframe control needle roller bearings that conform to aerospace OEM specifications. RBC airframe control needle roller bearings conform to SAE-AS39901, formerly MIL-B-3990. Many of these bearings are designed for use as track rollers with a thick cross-section outer rings to withstand heavy rolling loads. They are corrosion protected, grease lubricated, sealed, or unsealed. Other needle roller bearings are designed for use in housings and have lubrication holes and grooves to allow for greasing through shaft or housing. Stud type cam followers are available to simplify mounting configurations while allowing for relubrication through the stud.

Rings and needle rollers for these products are made from high carbon chrome steel, AISI 52100, hardened and precision ground. For protection from corrosion under heavy rolling loads, the O.D. of track roller bearings may be chrome plated. Studs for cam followers are produced from bearing quality steel, hardened to 60 HRC in the raceway area. Exposed surfaces may be cadmium or zinc nickel plated.

For improved corrosion resistance RBC also supplies bearings made of hardened stainless steel alloy, AISI 440C or AeroCres® reduced maintenance, highly corrosion resistant steel.

RBC airframe control needle roller bearings are available with either single or double roller paths, cylindrical or crowned O.D.s, and self-aligning outer ring features. These bearings are most commonly lubricated 80 to 100% full of grease in compliance with Mil-PRF-81322 or Mil-PRF-23827 specifications.

For more information on airframe control needle roller bearings, please consult RBC Customer Service at 866.RBC.AERO (866.722.2376) or view our Engineering Information.  For bearing specifications, please visit our Airframe Control Needle Track Roller Engineering page.

RBC Aerospace Bearings offers a full line of Mil Spec Standards and many specialty and custom ball bearing rod end anti-friction bearings to the aerospace industry and all major OEM specifications.  These double row, self-aligning bearings accommodate the application’s low torque, high load, and misalignment needs.  Product conforms to SAE-AS6039, formerly MIL-B-6039.

These double row self-aligning rod ends have inner rings and balls made from thru-hardened 52100 or 440C stainless to accommodate an application’s corrosion resistance needs.  The bearings are lubricated 80 to 100% fill in compliance with MIL-PRF-81322, MIL-PRF-23827, and Boeing’s BMS3-33 specifications.  Ball bearing rod ends are equipped with PTFE seals bonded to corrosion resistant caps.

The rod end body is selectively heat treated to provide a combination of a fracture tough head, ductile shank, and a carburized raceway to provide high load carrying capacity.  External surfaces are plated with cadmium to provide corrosion protection and thread lubricity.  The rod end body can be supplied to AISI8620 or RBC’s proprietary AeroCres® corrosion resistant material.

For more information on ball bearing rod ends, please consult RBC Customer Service at 866.RBC.AERO (866.722.2376) or view Engineering Information.  For bearings specifications, please visit our Ball Bearing Rod Ends Engineering page.

RBC Aerospace Bearings offers many specialty and custom designed gearbox and engine ball and roller bearings to the aerospace industry and all major OEMs. RBC’s gear
box and engine ball bearings are offered as radial, angular contact, single or double row,  can be supplied as pairs or sets, and are offered with bore sizes from 1 inch to 25 inches.  These bearings are offered as ABEC 1 through ABEC 7 precision grades, pre-loaded, corrosion protected, grease-lubricated, and are available with numerous separator, ball, shield, seal, and lubrication options.  RBC’s gear box and engine roller bearings are offered as RBEC 1 through RBEC 5.  Standard gear box and engine ball and roller bearings have either SAE 52100 or M50 steel rings and balls.  RBC gear box and engine ball and roller bearings can be manufactured from other specialty bearing steels to provide corrosion resistance, high temperature capability, alternative load capacity, or chemical compatibility.

RBC has manufactured gear box and engine ball bearings from CRES 440C to provide corrosion resistance.  As an alternative to CRES rings, the entire surface of the rings can be plated with thin dense chrome (TDC).  This plating, which meets AMS 2438, achieves a molecular bond that will not flake, peel, or separate from the base material.  Special RBC gear box and engine ball and roller bearings have been manufactured from BG42, M50 –NIL, other metals to meet customers’ application requirements.  Some special ball materials include CRES 440C, silicon nitride, and M50 steel.

RBC gear box and engine ball and roller engine bearings can be provided with many different lubricants depending on the application requirements.  Greases that are designed specifically for high speed, low torque, water resistance, high temperature, and oscillatory motion can be provided.  Additional lubricants, such as dry film, are suitable for use in vacuums and space applications.  Radial play (diametral clearance) can be adjusted for mounting fits or temperature changes.  Pre-load can be ground into the bearings to optimize stiffness to meet particular application requirements. In addition, mounting features, such as flanges, anti-rotation tabs, and mounting holes can be incorporated on the inner and outer rings.  RBC gear box and engine ball and roller bearings may be customized to meet an application’s demanding requirements.

RBC gear box and engine ball and roller bearings have been qualified to stringent military and customer design and performance standards in RBC test laboratories.  For information on gear box and engine ball and roller bearings or for information on the range of gear box and engine ball and roller bearings available from RBC, please consult RBC Aerospace Customer Service 866.RBC.AERO (866.722.2376).

RBC Aerospace Bearings offers a full line of Mil Spec standard lined Journal Bearings, unlined bushings, and many specialty and custom designed products to support the aerospace industry.   Journals are designed in a straight (plain) configuration with a flange to accommodate a combination of radial and axial loads with corrosion resistant materials and coatings. Journals are also offered in high temperature and water resistant series.

Typical Journal materials are 17-4PH and aluminum.  Bearings may also be cadmium or zinc nickel plated as required.  In addition, CRES 440C and Inconel® 718 are available upon request. Journal bore and flanged Journal face surfaces may also be provided with various liner systems to satisfy specific application requirements. (Inconel® is a registered trademark of Inco Alloys International, Inc. and The International Nickel Company, Inc.)   

RBC Bearings manufacturers a number of self-lubricating liner materials, including machinable liners, that are qualified to AS81934 (formerly MIL-B-81934).  In addition, over 60 other self-lubricating materials are available for specific characteristics; such as high temperature for turbine engine applications, or machinability for airframe, helicopter, and landing gear applications.

RBC Journal Bearings and bushings have been qualified to stringent SAE, military, NAS, AECMA, and customer design and performance standards in RBC Bearing test laboratories. For bearing specifications, please visit our Journal Bearings Engineering page.

RBC Aerospace Bearings offers a wide range of specialty and custom designed links and assemblies to support the aerospace industry.   Links and assemblies may be designed in straight, curved (in more than one plane), and complex configurations.  Applications may be for static mounts or dynamic push-pull control rod linkages.

Links and assemblies are available in corrosion resistant materials with a variety of special coatings and are also offered in high temperature and water resistant options.  Typical link and assembly materials are 17-4PH, 15-5PH, PH13-8Mo, Titanium, Inconel®718 with many coating options available.  (Inconel®718 is a registered trademark of Inco Alloys International, Inc. and The International Nickel Company, Inc.)   

Attachment features are typically rod ends, spherical plain bearings, threaded shafts or  clevis ends.  RBC links and assemblies allow for the use of  metal-to metal greased, solid film lubricant, PTFE lined, loader slot, and split ball constructions  Weldment options allow for additional weight savings, with some weldments capable of up to 1000° F (540° C) applications.

RBC manufacturers 4 different self-lubricating liner materials that are qualified to AS81820 (formerly Mil-B-81820).  In addition, over 60 other self-lubricating materials are available for specific characteristics; such as high temperature for turbine engine applications or machinability for airframe, helicopter, and landing gear applications.

RBC links and assemblies have been qualified to stringent customer design and performance standards in RBC test laboratories.  For information on special link and assemblies or for information on the many aerospace products from RBC, please consult RBC Aerospace Customer Service at 866.RBC.AERO (866.722.2376).

RBC Aerospace Bearings offers a wide variety of precision machining capabilities including high quality precision machined parts, mechanical assemblies, and custom fabrication for aerospace, defense, and military specifications.  Our manufacturing and process capabilities are AS9100 certified.

RBC specializes in simplifying processes for difficult parts to provide cost savings for our customers.  We offer the following capabilities to meet the most stringent requirements: 

• Design for Manufacturability
• Engineering
• Assembly
• Outside Processing
• CNC Machining
• Mills
• Lathes
• 4th Axis Machining
• Complex Operations
• Tight tolerance
• Difficult materials

Additionally, RBC offers the following special outside processes to meet military and prime contractor specifications: 

• Plating/coating
• Masking/painting
• Rubberization
• Forming
• Welding
• Etching
• Sawing capabilities
• Conventional
• Laser
• Water jet
• Non-destructive testing
• Magnetic
• Penetrant

 

Our long-term partnerships with key aerospace customers and their valued subcontractors reflect RBC’s commitment to customer satisfaction and the trust that customers place in our capabilities.

For additional information, please contact our precision machining group, RBC Aero Components at 770.345.0660.

RBC Aerospace Bearings offers standard and many specialty and custom designed radial ball bearings to the aerospace industry and all major OEMs.  RBC’s radial ball bearings are offered in Conrad-type, full compliment, sealed and unsealed designs.  These bearings are offered in ABEC 1 through  ABEC 7 precision grades, pre-loaded, corrosion protected, grease-lubricated, and are available with numerous separator, ball, shield, seal, and lubrication options.  Bore sizes range from 3/16 inch to 6 inches.  Standard radial ball bearings have SAE 52100 steel rings and balls.  RBC radial ball bearings can be manufactured from other specialty bearing steels to provide corrosion resistance, high temperature capability, alternative load capacity, or chemical compatibility.

RBC has manufactured radial ball bearings from CRES 440C to provide corrosion resistance.  As an alternative to CRES rings, the entire surface of the rings can be plated with thin dense chrome (TDC).  This plating, which meets AMS 2438, achieves a molecular bond that will not flake, peel, or separate from the base material.  RBC offers “T8” rings for superior corrosion resistance and M50, BG42 rings for high temperature applications.  Some special ball materials include CRES 440C, silicon nitride, and M50 steel.

RBC supplies radial ball bearings with many different lubricants depending on the application requirements.  Greases that are designed specifically for high speed, low torque, water resistance, high temperature, and oscillatory motion can be provided.  Additional lubricants, such as dry film, are suitable for use in vacuums and space applications.  Radial play (diametral clearance) can be adjusted for mounting fits or temperature changes.  Pre-loads can be ground into the bearings to optimize stiffness to meet particular application requirements. In addition, mounting features, such as flanges, anti-rotation tabs, and mounting holes can be incorporated on the inner and outer rings.  RBC radial ball bearings may be customized to meet an application’s demanding requirements.

RBC radial ball bearings have been qualified to stringent military and customer design and performance standards in RBC test laboratories.  For information on radial ball bearings or for information on the many standard series of radial ball bearings available from RBC, please consult RBC Aerospace Customer Service at 866.RBC.AERO (866.722.2376).

RBC Aerospace Bearings offers a full line of Mil-Spec standard and many specialty and custom designed plain rod ends to the aerospace industry and all major OEMs.  These bearing assemblies incorporate a spherical bearing swaged into the rod end body or a loader slot design.  Plain rod end bearings are available in high misalignment, high temperature, and light weight titanium series with external or internal threads, optional keyways, and slots.

The rod end bodies are designed to provide high strength and ductility.  Common materials for the body are: 4340 cadmium plated, 17-4PH, 15-5PH, PH13-8Mo, Titanium, Inconel® 718, Aluminum and other materials.   The inserts provide the rod end with high misalignment and load carrying capability.  The insert bearings may be of 17-4PH, 440C, 52100 chrome plated Inconel® 718, Cobalt, Aluminum, Beryllium-Copper, or PH13Mo.  The loader slot bearing has the additional ability to remove and replace the spherical ball.  (Inconel® is a registered trademark of the INCO family of companies)    

RBC manufacturers a number of self-lubricating liner materials that are qualified to AS81935 (formerly MIL-B-81935).  In addition, over 60 other self-lubricating materials are available for specific characteristics; such as high temperature for turbine engine applications, or for airframe, helicopter, and landing gear applications.

RBC plain rod end bearings have been qualified to stringent SAE, military, AECMA, and customer design and performance standards in RBC test laboratories.  For information on special plain rod end bearings or for information on the many standard series of plain rod end bearings available from RBC, please consult RBC Customer Service at 866.RBC.AERO (866.722.2376) or  view our Engineering Information.  For bearing specification, please visit our Rod End Plain Bearings Engineering page.

RBC Aerospace Bearings offers a full line of Mil Spec standards and many specialty and custom spherical plain bearings to the aerospace industry and all major OEM specifications. Both metal-to-metal and self-lubricating bearings are available. Configurations include swaged construction, load leader slot, split ball and high misalignment designs, with high temperature and light weight titanium and aluminum series offered. Sealed versions are also available.

Various materials are used in RBC swaged spherical bearings including races made from 17-4PH, 15-5PH, aluminum-bronze, AISI303, Inconel® -718, aluminum, and titanium, and spherical plain balls made from 440C, 52100 chrome plated, 13-8PHMo, Stellite®, Beryllium-Copper, aluminum and titanium. Race and ball surfaces may also be provided with a dry film lubricant for high temperature applications or various coatings to enhance corrosion resistance and reduce wear. (Inconel® is a registered trademark of the INCO family of companies. Stellite® is a registered trademark of the Deloro Stellite Company.)

RBC manufactures 4 different self-lubricating liner materials that are qualified to AS81820 (formerly Mil-B- 81820). In addition, over 60 other self-lubricating materials are available for specific characteristic; such as high temperature for turbine engine applications or machinability for airframe, helicopter, and landing gear applications.

RBC spherical plain bearings have been qualified to stringent SAE, military, NAS, AECMA, and customer design and performance standards in RBC test laboratories. For information on special plain bearings or for information on the many standard series of commercial plain bearings which are available from RBC, please consult RBC Customer Service at 866.RBC.AERO (866.722.2376) or visit our Spherical Plain Bearings Engineering page.  For an RBC Engineering overview of metal-to-metal and self-lubricated bearings and to learn more about our advanced liner systems, view Engineering Information.

RBC Aerospace Bearings offers Mil Spec standards and many specialty and custom stud type airframe track rollers to the aerospace industry and all major OEM specifications.  RBC stud type airframe track rollers conform to SAE-AS39901, formerly MIL-B-3990.  These bearings have been designed for specific use on track type or cam-controlled equipment when cantilever mounting is desired.  They are corrosion protected, grease lubricated and, typically, sealed.

Stud type airframe track roller outer rings and needle rollers are made from high carbon chrome steel, AISI 52100.  They are hardened and precision ground.  The O.D. of the outer ring is chromium plated in accordance with the AMS-QQ-C-320, Class 2 specifications to a minimum of .0004”.  Stud type airframe track rollers are available with cylindrical or crowned outer rings. Exposed surfaces may be cadmium or zinc nickel plated.  For improved corrosion resistance, RBC also supplies bearings made of hardened stainless steel alloy, AISI 440C, or AeroCres®  reduced maintenance, highly corrosion resistant steel.  These bearings are most commonly lubricated 80 to 100% fill in compliance with Mil-PRF-81322, Mil-PRF-23827, and Boeing’s BMS3-33 specifications.

The stud type airframe track roller is selectively heat treated to provide a combination of a fracture tough head, ductile shank, and a carburized raceway to provide high load carrying capacity.  External surfaces are plated with cadmium to provide corrosion protection and thread lubricity.  The stud type airframe track roller can be supplied to AISI8620 or RBC’s proprietary AeroCres®  corrosion resistant material.

For more information on stud type airframe track rollers, please consult RBC Customer Service at 866.RBC.AERO (866.722.2376) or view Engineering Information.  Bearing Specification can be found on our Stud Type Track Roller Bearings Engineering page.

RBC Aerospace Bearings offers a wide variety of precision aerospace swaged tubes, control rods, push-pull rods, tie downs, and machined parts for commercial and military aerospace applications.  Our manufacturing and process capabilities are ISO9001, AS9100 and Nadcap certified.

We enhance our product offering by providing special processes and capabilities to satisfy your application’s stringent requirements.  We provide Mil-Spec flash welding, cadmium plating, chemical processing, welding, brazing, painting, non-destructive testing, and we have full EDI capabilities. We additionally offer the following processes that meet military and prime contractor specifications:

1. Aluminum chem. film processing
2. Aluminum heat treating
3. Brush cadmium plating
4. Cadmium plating
5. CAD/CAM engineering, programming, and drafting
6. CNC machining
7. Conventional machining
8. Flash welding
9. Fluorescent penetrant inspection
10. Form tapping
11. Magnetic particle inspection
12. Nickel flash processing
13. Painting
14. Passivation
15. Statistical process control (SPC)
16. Swaging
17. Zinc phosphate processing

Our long-term partnerships with key aerospace customers and their valued subcontractors reflect RBC's commitment to customer satisfaction and the trust that customers place in our capabilities.

Some typical applications for fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft include:

1. Control Rods
2. Push-pull Rods
3. Connecting Links
4. Torque Tubes
5. Rod Assemblies
6. Struts

For additional information, please contact RBC AeroStructures at 864.886.4600.

RBC Bearings offers a full line of standard and many specialty and custom designed thin section ball bearings to the aerospace industry and all major OEMs.  RBC Bearings' thin section ball bearings are offered in radial contact, angular contact, 4-point contact and sealed radial contact designs.  These bearings are offered in ABEC 1 through  ABEC7 precision grades, pre-loaded, corrosion protected, grease-lubricated, and are available with numerous separator, ball, shield, seal, and lubrication options.  Standard thin section ball bearings have SAE 52100 steel rings and balls.  RBC thin section ball bearings can be manufactured from other specialty bearing steels to provide corrosion resistance, high temperature capability, alternative load capacity, or chemical compatibility.

RBC Bearings has manufactured thin section ball bearings from SAE 440C stainless steel to provide corrosion resistance.  As an alternative to CRES rings, the entire surface of the rings can be plated with nodular thin dense chrome (TDC).  This plating, which meets AMS 2438, achieves a molecular bond that will not flake, peel, or separate from the base material.  Special RBC Bearings thin section ball bearings have been manufactured from aluminum, 300 series stainless steel, 17-4PH and other metals.  Some special ball materials include CRES 440C, 300 series stainless steel, silicon nitride, and M50 steel.

RBC Bearings supplies thin section ball bearings with many different lubricants depending on the application requirements.  Greases that are designed specifically for high speed, low torque, water resistance, high temperature, and oscillatory motion can be provided.  Additional lubricants, such as dry film, are suitable for use in vacuums and space applications.  Radial play (diametral clearance) can be adjusted for mounting fits or temperature changes.  Pre-loads can be ground into the bearings to increase or decrease loads to meet particular application requirements. In addition, mounting features, such as flanges, anti-rotation tabs, and mounting holes can be incorporated on the inner and outer rings.  RBC Bearings thin section ball bearings may be customized to meet your application’s demanding requirements.

 

Bearing Type	Contact	Radial	Axial	Moment	Reversing Axial	Combined Radial-Thrust
C	Radial	Excellent	Good	Good	Good	Good
A	Angular	Good	Excellent	Do Not Use	Do Not Use	Good
X	4-Point	Poor	Good	Excellent	Excellent	Poor

RBC thin section bearings have been qualified to stringent military and customer design and performance standards in RBC test laboratories. For information on thin section ball bearings or for information on the many standard series of thin section ball bearings available from RBC, please consult RBC Customer Service at 866.RBC.AERO (866.722.2376) or view our Engineering Information.  Bearing specifications can be found on the Thin Secion Bearing Engineering page.