Accelerated Rolling Contact Fatigue Test by a Cylinder-to-Ball Rig Available to Purchase

The cylinder-to-ball type of rolling contact fatigue rig is one of the most accelerated test rigs and is suitable for investigation of the influences of material and heat-treatment factors on rolling contact fatigue life. It has such merits as ease of manufacture, high precision, and easy replacement of the specimen and a high loading speed with high contact stress. The transition in the life levels of ball bearing steels and carburizing steels in relation to the year of production, beginning in 1964, is described. As examples of the test results, the influences of the fiber orientation and the forging ratio are described. The influence of the fiber orientation is great for ball bearing steel and not as great for carburizing steel. Bar forging greatly increases the rolling contact fatigue life whereas upset forging does not.