Uber-low friction bearings from Japan- KOO SPACE  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Dave3
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2020, 05:40:15 am
content: KOO SPACE is offering uber-low friction bearings out of Japan. Video and claims are interesting so wasn't sure which section to post.https://youtu.be/h9O5QQuFgrchttp://coo-space.com/en/

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2020, 05:54:02 am
content: I remember watching that video when it first came out. They run their uber bearings without the grease. And we don't put the grease just for fun, it reduces sliding friction. Those bearings will not work under load.That sounds like a marketing ploy to skim on the grease.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2020, 06:01:28 am
content: i want to see the load claim tested, I heard this before, typically professional ceramic bearing manufacturers have different grease guidelines then conventional bearings, i.e. silicone film rather then heavy duty grease.I kind of think the different with ceramic bearings is that they require a frequent maintenance cycle in comparison to steel bearings. They are not a gimmick in the engineering world, its special purpose. Also for high temperature use they might be the only option where grease does not even work.I feel like ceramic bearing reputation is influenced by the 'get the coolest sounding engineering shit possible' in the high end sports equipment industry. They are defiantly a serious product. I feel like I read one or two hand waving analysis of ceramic bearings but it comes off as being produced by someone thumping shit related to consumer automotive or low-medium end machining knowledge. I have not yet seen a serious analysis where claims by industry manufacturers of bearings are tested.So I feel like currently most of what I see about ceramic bearings is cost sensitive butnotknowledgeable people fighting marketing people, and its a free for all with nothing useful produced other then stigma and hand waving about cost. When I asked a professional ME about this, he did not really know (when I brought my opinion on commonly available information to him).I feel like this results in ceramic bearings being under estimated in terms of load, perhaps not appropriate for a truck axle but also not limited to only being used in a kiln fan, in reality. I am sick of the lack of information about this, but the test requires sensitive dynometers and wear testing (expensive). I don't care for blowing air on something with random grease on it and ranting like a mad man about cost (grease selection is actually complicated, and so are the load tests (including load type and transient performance).Not to mention high performance ceramics are a scary material (its like playing with titanium for the first time and being impressed by its properties, its quite unbelievable, but you won't get a feel for it if you just buy a titanium spoon).I personally just don't care enough about bearings to mess with it.

author: Dave3
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2020, 10:09:16 pm
content: A company explored bearings produced in lower orbits to improve roundness. Beyond the outrageous cost, the benefits were very short lived as the bearings began to wear.For regular folks, there are so many knock-offs that we need to buy top brands directly from a reputable supply house.Maybe the KOO SPACE concepts would work for a few specialized, very low-load applications, like small computer fans. I think something else helped the skateboarder in the advert above.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2020, 10:42:03 pm
content: again idk if its fair to relegate the bearings to ultra low load applications, its just hearsay based on like 1 ave video (one of his half assed ones)I have yet to see someone install a big good quality one in something and actually test it. he won't do it because real ones are expensive, and it needs a proper installation for comparison (jig ground)

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2020, 10:48:59 pm
content: Quote from: ataradov on June 05, 2020, 05:54:02 amThere are various applications where grease isn't used.

author: mzzj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2020, 09:18:11 pm
content: As a rule of thumb if the bearings are marketed for skateboards they are crapTheir website is also cute and very authentic: cataRog