|
|
 |
Tel: +44 (0)1922 710515
|
Fax: +44 (0)1922 710575
|
 |
 HOME
|
BALLS |
ROLLERS |
MANUFACTURING |
CONTACT US |
DOWNLOADS |
 |
 |
Atlas Ball & Bearing Co. Ltd are pleased to announce that we are now in an exclusive partnership with a UK ball manufacturing plant. |
||
|
The plant presently produces balls with a size range from 1.5mm to 65mm (1/16" to 2 1/2") and is one of the only ball factories in the UK that can produce balls with every process carried out in-house from forming the raw material through to the finished product including heat treatment requirements in such a wide range of materials. The factory has been set up to produce small to medium batches of balls in special materials, details of minimum quantities and applicable materials are available on application. We are also able to offer bespoke ball manufacturing from customer/free issue supplied material. This offers the same process controls and traceability but using a customers own material. For further details email us at MAIL or phone us on +44 (0) 1922 710515
|
||
|
BALL
MANUFACTURING STAGES
|
||
| HEADING Raw material in the form of wire or bar is formed into spherical 'blanks' by high speed automatic machines. The accurate 'blanks' obtained at this stage have a positive effect on subsequent stages of the production. The blanks are measured at regular intervals in order to ensure accuracy of form. |
 |
|
 |
FLASHING Headed blanks are roughly ground during rotation under high pressure in grinding plates manufactured from special cast iron in order to remove the 'flash' and any large surface defects. Balls are repeatedly fed into the grooves for grinding. Measurements are regularly taken in order to monitor the removal of material and the resulting size and form of the ball. |
|
|
HEAT TREATMENT
Depending on the material the balls have been manufactured from, the balls are tempered in a fully controlled rotary furnace. This process relieves any 'built in' stresses created during the previous stages of manufacture and gives maximum strength and durability. This process can also be used to 'distress' product in the event that a 'rough surface finish' is required. (Not all materials are heat treated) |
 |
|
 |
GRINDING This process is carried out to remove any oxides produced as a result of the heat treatment process and also to improve the spherical form of the ball. Balls are ground between a rotating grinding wheel and a stationary cast iron plate. Measurements are regularly taken in order to monitor the removal of material and the resulting size and form of the ball. |
|
|
LAPPING / POLISHING The hard ground balls are then 'lapped' to achieve their final dimensional
form and surface finish. This is carried out between cast iron plates,
one rotating, one stationary. The pressure exerted on the grinding plate
is crucial to this process and is constantly monitored. Measurements are
regularly taken in order to establish the correct 'pull point' |
 |
|
 |
FINAL INSPECTION Following completion of the manufacturing process, the balls undergo
a final quality inspection where various characteristics of the balls
are measured, depending on the grade of ball and the customers requirements.
Typical characteristics are size tolerance, roundness, hardness and surface
finish. |
|
 |
||
|
PACKING This is the final stage of the process and involves the weighing of the product into the required quantities and the subsequent bagging and packing of the product. All product is packed taking into account the size, physical properties of the material and the grade of ball. All packing used is chosen in order to prevent any damage or corrosion of the product. Each box is labelled with a full description of the product including a unique batch number that is used for traceability of the product back through the processes right to the raw material. Labelling can be tailored to the requirements of the customer. |
 |
|
|
|
||