What are Ball Bearings?
Ball bearings, also known as anti-friction bearings, are small metallic or ceramic spheres used to reduce friction between shafts and axles in a number of applications. Ball bearings are often used in a series to absorb the weight placed on a moving part, or in individual cages to reduce friction in axle assemblies. Most ball bearings are manufactured to meet very exacting standards of roundness, since any deformation can cause the moving parts to fail unexpectedly. The concept of ball bearings can be traced all the way back to the Roman Empire, but many sources credit Leonardo Da Vinci with the first practical designs. It wasn’t until 1791, however, when an English carriage maker and inventor named Philip Vaughn patented the first axle assembly to use ball bearings. Previous carriage axles would eventually wear out from the effects of friction, but Vaughn’s use of ball bearings eliminated the direct contact between the drive shaft and axle. Following the early use of ball bearings in
