The FBJ brand also offers reliable and economical solutions in the field of ball joints, especially for those looking for standard quality at a reasonable price.
In mechanical engineering and maintenance practice, we often encounter moving parts where the structure must follow a swinging or rotating motion with a certain degree of freedom, while also bearing loads. Ball joints are the ideal choice for such applications.
Applications for FBJ ball joints
FBJ ball joints are recommended for use primarily in general purpose industrial and agricultural applications.
Examples include:
- the rod end of spraying machines,
- the hinge point on the ends of work rollers,
- the mechanical control of packaging machines or
- the rocker arms of material handling equipment.
In these cases, the joints are used to connect components that are subjected to medium loads and do not move continuously at high frequency.
However, the use of FBJ ball joints is not recommended in extreme applications such as presses, robot cells or high temperature, high dynamic load systems. These applications usually require precision or specially certified joints.
Type range and designations
The type codes of FBJ ball joints are easy to follow.
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POS / SA series – external thread
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PHS / SI series– internal thread
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GE series – spherical plain bearings
- Design: consisting of inner and outer ring without rolling elements, allowing to bear heavy loads
- Applications: in applications where articulated motion and heavy loads occur together
Standard metric threads make them easy to substitute with products from other manufacturers, which is particularly useful in maintenance situations.
Type of load and movement
FBJ ball joints are generally optimised to carry radial (lateral) loads. Due to the possibility of rotation and angular deflection, they also work well in systems with oscillating motion.
Backlash, range of motion and slip properties vary by type.
Environmental conditions and designs
The environment in which the product is to be used is a key factor in choosing the right type.
FBJ offers stainless steel ball joints that perform well in humid, corrosive environments such as agricultural or food processing machinery.
In dusty, muddy environments, it is advisable to use sealed designs or types that can be lubricated regularly.
In high temperature applications, it is important to consider the sliding surface material.
Typical failures of FBJ ball joints and how to avoid them
It is often the case that the ball joint is not selected for the application.
It is a common mistake to dynamically overload a self-lubricating, maintenance-free joint or to install a lubrication-requiring type in a difficult-to-access location where subsequent lubrication is impossible. In such cases, it is not the component itself that is at fault, but the selection or operation. This is why it is important to include maintenance knowledge in the decision making process at the design stage.
Maintenance considerations
FBJ ball joints, especially the lubricated versions, will provide a longer service life with regular maintenance. It is worth checking at the time of installation whether the joint has a grease nipple and, if so, ensuring that it is properly lubricated as part of the maintenance plan.
Dry-running joints will wear quickly, cause backlash and, in severe cases, transmit vibration to the rest of the structure, which can cause further damage.
Spare parts supply
FBJ has the advantage of producing standardised sized parts, making them easily interchangeable with products from other brands. However, we can also replace failed FBJ ball joints and bearings immediately from our large stock in Budapest, so you don’t have to worry about finding replacements.
This is particularly useful for maintenance staff looking for a quick solution to reduce downtime.
FBJ ball joints are a reliable and well-priced choice for general industrial and agricultural applications. The choice should always take into account the nature of the load, environmental factors and the type of movement – all of which make it easy to find the most suitable FBJ ball joint for the job.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact one of our experts!
