With the rapid development of the science & technology, drones are widely used in various industries, such as military, weather detection and image data transmission.

They can accomplish difficult flight tasks, unmanned. With the help of the radio remote control, drones can operate smoothly.

Drone

Customized Miniature Bearings for Drone Gimbals

Recently, Lily Bearing helped a drone manufacturer customize a solution of miniature bearings, which are used in the drone gimbal.

The gimbal is a kind of component on the drone which serves as a platform for the body to connect to the camera.

This client's UAV gimbal is driven by brushless motors which can sense the movement of the camera body with the help of sensors and can keep the camera stable in the horizontal, rolling or pitching direction through the motors to offset the negative impact of the vibration of the camera body.

Miniature Bearing

Key Factors in Bearing Selection

After having a good knowledge of the client's working conditions, engineers from Lily Bearing suggested using miniature bearings of MR117ZZ, 683ZZ and MR84ZZ for the client’s UAV heads.

They also gave some professional interpretation for the relevant parameters of these miniature sealed bearings.

Miniature Bearing

Material and Construction

The ring material and the ball material of these miniature bearings are all made of the 52100 chrome steel.

The cages and seals are made of 300 series stainless steel, which withstands high loads and rotational speeds, and has anti-rust properties.

Both materials provide a higher strength-to-wear ratio, key for bearing life and efficiency.

Dimensions and Tolerances

  • MR117ZZ: 7×11×3 mm, tolerance -0.008 to 0 (width tolerance -0.12 to 0)

  • 683ZZ: 3×7×3 mm, tolerance same as above

  • MR84ZZ: 4×8×3 mm, tolerance same as above

Dimensions of Some Miniature Bearings

Bearing Structure, Load, and Speed

All three series are single-row, radial-load bearings with slight differences in static and dynamic radial load:

  • MR117ZZ: dynamic 387N, static 162N, max speed 43×1000 rpm

  • 683ZZ: dynamic 264N, static 90N, max speed 63×1000 rpm

  • MR84ZZ: dynamic 336N, static 113N, max speed 56×1000 rpm

Clearance, Preload, and Sealing

All bearings have radial clearance grade MC3 (range 0.002–0.013 mm), and preload is necessary to eliminate play and improve stiffness.

All three series are shielded, preventing contamination and ensuring proper lubrication.

Risk Factors and Proper Handling

Excessive assembly forces or misalignment can increase noise, torque, and shorten bearing life.

Misalignments up to ~1° can be tolerated. Bearings should not be handled bare-handed; gloves and lint-free cloths are recommended.

Shock or vibration can damage preloaded assemblies, so shock-absorbing surfaces are advised.

Range and Customized Solutions

The three series are part of Lily Bearing's complete miniature bearing catalogue, which includes size selection, pricing, and CAD drawings.

For high-load or special projects, Lily Bearing provides customized solutions based on client conditions.