Rod End and Spherical Bearings
A diverse selection of standard to custom R&S bearings, machined parts, next-up assemblies, and patented technologies. Engineered for demanding applications in jet engines, landing gear, rotorcraft, and space launch vehicles.
A wide R&S portfolio from simple to complex.
From basic workhorse components to more sophisticated solutions such as large titanium bushings, next-up assemblies and our patented self-lubricating liner technologies.
Rod End Bearings
Rod End Bearings manufactured by MinebeaMitsumi Aerospace companies are utilized on everything from small private aircraft to the largest long haul commercial jets. They are critical components in mechanical links and actuation systems such as engine mounts, landing gear down-lock braces, wing flap actuators, and blade pitch control assemblies. The full product family includes industry standard and customer certified bearings, complex solutions like INVINSYS® pitch link bearing system, and custom engineered solutions.
SPECIAL DESIGN FEATURES
- Full complement of rod end body types
- Premium and exotic bearing alloys
- A wide selection of patented self-lubricating liner systems
- Special surface treatments and coatings, including RoHS-compliant options
- Integral features for unlimited design options and performance improvements
Spherical Bearings
The Spherical Plain Bearings manufactured by MinebeaMitsumi Aerospace companies are specialized solutions utilized on everything from small private aircraft to the largest long haul commercial jets. They are critical components in mechanical links and actuation systems such as gearbox mounts, landing gear trunnions, vertical stabilizers, and helicopter rotor head assemblies. The full product line includes industry-standard and customer-certified bearings, complex designs like split ball spherical assemblies and pintle bearings, and custom engineered solutions.
SPECIAL DESIGN FEATURES
- Metal-to-metal and self-lubricating series
- Broad selection of construction types
- Premium and exotic bearing alloys
- A wide selection of patented self-lubricating liner systems
- Special surface treatments and coatings, including RoHS-compliant options
- Integral features for unlimited design option
Loader Slots
The Loader Slot Bearing manufactured by MinebeaMitsumi Aerospace companies is specially designed to enable ball replacement without the need for bearing removal. This feature is invaluable in mechanical links and actuation systems, such as engine mounts, which experience vibratory or static loads that produce small relative motion between the ball and race. Loader Slot Bearings are available either as a spherical bearing or a two-piece rod end. The entire product family consists of standard catalog items that include fully interchangeable Stellite® balls and nitride-coated spherical race inner diameters, and custom engineered solutions for applications with demanding performance requirements.
SPECIAL DESIGN FEATURES
- Premium and exotic bearing alloys
- Special surface treatments and coatings, including RoHS-compliant options
- Integral features for unlimited design options
Sleeve Bearings
MinebeaMitsumi Aerospace companies manufacture Self-Lubricated Sleeve Bearings for a wide range of applications on both rotary and fixed-wing aircraft, including engine mounts, flap actuation hinges, landing gear retraction actuator systems, and helicopter rotor scissor drives. The complete product family includes industry-standard and customer-certified products, unique designs like our large titanium landing gear bushings, and custom engineered solutions for very demanding applications. Also available are customized lubricated (metal-to-metal) sleeve bearings made from bronze, steel or stainless steel.
SPECIAL DESIGN FEATURES
- Premium and exotic bearing alloys
- A wide selection of patented self-lubricating liner systems
- Special surface treatments and coatings, including RoHS-compliant options
- Integral features for unlimited design options
Next-Up Assemblies
Highly engineered solutions featuring precision bearings and machined parts, shipped as complete assemblies, is a cost-effective strategy for achieving consistently high quality and a streamlined supply chain. MinebeaMitsumi Aerospace companies offer customers numerous options—and a great deal of flexibility—for outsourcing the production and assembly of Precision Next-Up Mechanical Assemblies. As a Group consisting of bearing specialists and advanced, high-precision manufacturers, the Group is capable of fabricating everything from small, two-piece components containing a precision bearing to very large, highly complex assemblies made of lightweight superalloys and possessing several intricate machined parts. Experienced product and manufacturing engineers provide full support for every phase of the design and production process, starting with application engineering and continuing through prototyping, in-house qualification testing, high-precision machining and finish grinding, bearing installation, and final assembly.
RELATED CAPABILITIES
- Applications engineering and new product development
- In-house performance validation and qualification testing
- High precision advanced manufacturing of bearings and machined components—turning, milling and machining, grinding (OD/Bore), EDM
- Design and production of complex geometric parts through additive manufacturing techniques
- Expert bearing installation and management of stack-up tolerances among components
- Production process development and management
- Complete assembly of finished product
Patented Self-Lubricating Liner Solutions
MinebeaMitsumi Aerospace companies are leaders in the development of self-lubricating liner solutions for demanding aerospace applications, such as engine mounts, landing gear gland assemblies, helicopter pitch-link control systems, and more. The many woven PTFE fabrics and machinable compounds developed by the Group contain specific properties that address any number of operating conditions and performance objectives. Wide-ranging solutions provide improved wear resistance for increased bearing life, machinability for precise fit and function, superior corrosion and moisture resistance for consistent performance in harsh conditions, high-temperature resistance for durable performance in the hot zone of jet engines, and more.
ADVANCED SOLUTIONS
- INVINSYS® An innovative pitch control bearing technology that lasts up to two and a half times longer than previous designs.
- MinebeaMitsumi’s Minelon® and NHBB’s Oscimax® self-lubricating, machinable liner solutions provide exceptional wear life and consistent, reliable performance while achieving tighter tolerances. Available solutions range from cost-effective standard bearings to high-value custom components as well as line-only applications on customer parts. Download the brochure.
- VULKYN® A high-temperature self-lubricating liner solution with a maximum operating temperature that is 75°F higher than previous designs.
Self-Aligning Roller Bearing Rod Ends
MinebeaMitsumi Aerospace companies supply Self-Aligning Annular Roller Bearings manufactured to SAE AS8914 and Self-Aligning Rod Ends manufactured to the SAE AS8952. The two main characteristics of a Self-Aligning Roller Bearing are low starting torque and a self-alignment capability. These attributes make them suitable for flight control actuation systems and many other applications with slow to medium rotation, heavy loads, and significant misalignment. The full product line consists of eleven specific sub-types, in single- and double-row configurations, as well as highly engineered custom solutions for more extreme applications.
SPECIAL DESIGN FEATURES
- Carburized (case hardened) raceways for fatigue resistance
- Protective coatings for enhanced corrosion resistance
- Optional precessing retainer design for double-row configurations
- Optional flexible seal and lubricator fitting for field relubrication
Made to handle whatever challenges you encounter.
Highly engineered custom solutions to address specific challenges, including unique geometries and dimensional constraints, load/fatigue resistance, extreme temperatures and angular misalignment. Ask how we can help you with your custom products.
Aerospace Standards Approvals
We offer R&S products qualified to MS, Boeing, and Airbus standards.
Specialized Market Segments and Applications
Our products are used in a wide range of mechanical subsystems, a few of which are highlighted here:
- Engine Mount
- Compressor Variable Geometry Actuator
- Spigot Assembly
- Disk Load Reduction Assembly
- Guide Vane
- Variable Bleed Valve System
- Variable Stator Vane
Engines, Gearboxes and Transmissions
- Downlock Brace
- Gland Assembly
- Pintle
- Retraction Actuator
- Steering Actuator
- Trunnion
- Shock Strut
Landing Gear
- Blade Retention Fitting
- Blade Damper
- Main/Tail Rotor Pitch Change Assemblies
- Scissor Drive
- Swash Plate
- Rotor Head Assembly
Rotorcraft and VTOL
- Aileron
- Flap Actuator
- Fuselage Bracket
- High Lift Assembly
- Stabilizer Trim Actuator
- Leading Edge Slat Actuator
- Spoiler Actuator
- Vertical Stabilizer
Flight Control Systems and Fuselage
- Aerostructures
- Flight Controls
eVTOL and ePlane
- Space launch vehicle
- Cargo Capsule
- Crew Transport Vehicle
Space and Satellite
Need more details on rod end and spherical bearings?
Connect with a MinebeaMitsumi Aerospace products specialist to craft ideal solutions for your performance and installation requirements.
High precision manufacturing with consistent quality.
Our sophisticated capabilities in nearly every facet of manufacturing leverage the 140+ years of combined expertise amassed by the MinebeaMitsumi Aerospace companies. The result is a network of seven specialized brands in Asia, Europe and North America — delivering the right products and solutions with unwavering consistency and quality — no matter where you are in the world. Rod end and spherical bearings are produced at these divisions: