Model aeroplane relies on lightweight & corrosion-resistant flanged ball bearings

Profile

What was needed?
Ball bearing with flange

Requirements:
A particularly light bearing is required to support a swivelling device for a model aircraft. It should also be corrosion-free.

Industry:
Aerospace / model making

Success for the customer:
The flanged ball bearing compensates for misalignments and its corrosion resistance makes it possible to obtain particularly precise measurement data. It also fulfils the high weight requirements.

The Institute of Space Systems (IRS) is testing and demonstrating the use of a remote-controlled model aeroplane as a remote sensing platform. For this purpose, the model aeroplane "Stuttgarter Adler" is equipped with various payloads in order to carry out scientific missions to determine the "bidirectional reflectance distribution function" (BRDF) and to record environmental data. The "Stuttgart Eagle" was specially designed and constructed for its task by students from the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering. It differs from the model aeroplanes used by amateur pilots in that it takes safety-relevant factors into account. The design provides for a large fuselage for the instrumentation, and the electric drive system is housed in two engine nacelles in the supporting structure.

Problem

With a total weight of 25 kg, the Stuttgart Adler can carry a payload of approx. 5 kg and achieves a flight time of up to 30 min. Flight navigation is performed by a GPS-supported control system that allows the aircraft to automatically follow a pre-programmed flight plan. The instrumentation of the Stuttgart Adler consists of three cameras for the visible and near infrared spectral range, as well as a spectrometer and a thermal infrared camera. The cameras achieve a ground resolution of up to 10 centimetres in the visible and near infrared spectral range, while a ground resolution of 30 centimetres is achieved in the thermal infrared range.

To obtain the measurement data, the aircraft will fly circular paths over the measurement area and record images from different angles. For this purpose, the payload cameras must be mounted on a swivelling platform so that they can be directed at the target area at different roll angles. A particularly lightweight and corrosion-resistant bearing is required to support a swivelling device.

Solution

The swivel device designed and manufactured by IRS realises its movements thanks to xiros plastic flanged ball bearings with glass balls, which meet the high weight requirements. The flanged ball bearing compensates for misalignment and its corrosion resistance makes it possible to obtain particularly accurate measurement data. In addition to their corrosion resistance (when using glass or plastic balls), xiros plastic ball bearings to DIN 625 also require no external lubrication and operate extremely quietly.

This makes them a cost-effective alternative to metallic ball bearings. Made from a tribopolymer mixture, the solid plastic components are lightweight, resistant to chemicals and non-magnetic. This ensures safe use in a wide variety of areas such as medicine, the packaging industry, food processing and drive technology.

xiros® flanged ball bearings in model aircraft

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