LM76 Blogger

Linear Bearings that EXCEED the Challenge

Motion Control – The Engineering Edge – History of Ceramic Bearings.

March 19th, 2026

Editor

Motion Control – LM76 offers innovative solutions to problems!

Motion Control – THE SOUL OF A NEW IDEA In 1976, Warren Hamilton, The General Manager of J.C. Tarbell Associates, an internationally recognized designer of plain (sleeve) bearings was asked by a customer to solve a linear ball bearing failure. At the time, Warren and his team spent most of their efforts on traditional rotary, sleeve bearing design. Applications like a revolutionary sintered, high temperature (700F+), self-lubricating aircraft engine stator vane bushing made from nickel, chromium and cobalt – eventually used in every F404 engine employed on the new F-18 Hornet – America’s new topline fighter. Getting back to the linear ball bearing issue… Warren studied the linear ball bearing failure and set-out to find a solution. Read more »

LM76’s Black Racer Bearings Are the Bearings of Choice for Mattress Manufacturer!

March 12th, 2026

Editor

The high speed, short stroke, and the dust & debris of a mattress stitching machine proved too much for linear ball bearings! The contamination and short stroke length did not allow the bearing to circulate and caused premature failure.

E. Longmeadow, MA – — LM76’s solution to problem was to replace the linear ball bearings with the ceramic coated “Black Racer Ceramic Linear Bearings” linear bearings. These linear bearings have a Coefficient of Friction of just .04 (lubricated). LM76 offers 5 of the the 6 Lowest Coefficient-of-Friction bearings and bearing systems available. Follow the links below and contact LM76 for help in selecting the best bearing or bearing system for your application. Read more »

Motion Control – Low Cost, FDA/USDA/3A-Dairy Compliant Water Dog Linear Slides!

March 5th, 2026

Editor

Motion Control – Low Cost, FDA/USDA/3A-Dairy Compliant Water Dog Linear Slides!

Motion Control – Components – Linear Motion – E. Longmeadow, MA – FDA/USDA/3A-Dairy compliant, Water Dog Sliders from LM76 feature Corro-SlickTM coated 300 series stainless steel rails and contoured WDX Polymer blocks. Water Dog Sliders can be washed down with the most aggressive chemicals and caustic foaming agents and have an operating temperature range of – 400 degrees to +180 degrees F. Quiet, low maintenance Water Dog Sliders can be used: Dry, submerged in liquids, and in refrigerated and frozen environments. Read more »

Motion Control – The Engineering Edge – Application – ETX Pillow Blocks!

February 26th, 2026

Editor

Motion Control – Application – Radioactive Environment

ETX Pillow/Block Bearings for Radioactive Environments

Motion Control – Application – This was a troublesome application. This system is completely submerged in radioactive water at a nuclear power plant. So no Teflon, no seals, no lubrication – nothing that will degrade in a radioactive environment. The majority of components are stainless steel – except for our ceramic coated/supported shafting and our special, designed for this particular application/never made before, ETX self-lubricating linear blocks. Read more »

Motion Control – The Engineering Edge – Jet Rail Linear Roller Blocks – Bearing Specifications and Loading Instructions

February 19th, 2026

Editor

Motion Control – the Engineering Edge – Jet Rail

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Motion Control – Stainless Steel And Self Aligning Linear Ball Bearings Are Easily Lubricated Right Inside of “New Design” Pillow And Flange Blocks!

February 12th, 2026

Editor

Motion Control – “New Design” Pillow and Flange Blocks!

E. Longmeadow, MA — Motion Control – Linear Motion – Lubricating Stainless Steel and Self-Aligning Linear Ball Bearings has never been easier! “New Design” pillow blocks and flange blocks from LM76, features a lubrication fitting, and an alignment set screw in the pillow blocks and flange blocks, and the Stainless Steel and self aligning linear bearings are modified by having an alignment flat ground on the bearings’ outer shell and drilling a hole through the outer shell. Read more »

Linear Motion Control Components – FDA/USDA/3-A Dairy Compliant

February 5th, 2026

Editor

Motion Control – FDA/USDA Compliant Bearings

Motion Control – Linear Motion – LM76 FluidLine Linear/Rotary bearings are FDA/USDA & 3A Dairy Complaint. They are also caustic wash down inert. FluidLine bearings one piece construction has benefits over traditional Teflon Composite lined aluminum bearings: if you have a wear situation, Teflon Composite Bearings have a .035″ Teflon Composite Liner. Once you wear through the liner, you are into the aluminum shell. FluidLine bearings will simply wear more and more until they are too sloppy and can replaced at your convenience. They are also less expensive in volume because there are fewer manufacturing operations. We can easily design and produce special ID’s, OD’s, Lengths and features such as flanges.
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The Engineering Edge – What’s the Difference?

January 29th, 2026

Editor

Motion Control – Linear Bearings Compared

E. Longmeadow, MA – LM76’s high speed, “Black Racer,” ceramic coated linear bearings out perform linear ball bushing and linear polymer bearings in high speed and high acceleration/deceleration applications. These drop in replacement linear bearings are designed to be used in standard open and closed pillow blocks. “Black Racer” linear bearings are ideal for: Rocket sleds, crash test systems, and other high speed, high acceleration application. Read more »

Motion Control – ZrO2 Zirconia Ceramic Radial Ball Bearings For High Loads available from LM76 are FDA/USDA/3A-Dairy Compliant!

January 22nd, 2026

Editor

Motion Control – Zirconia Ceramic Radial Bearings

E. Longmeadow, MA — Motion Control – LM76 has announced the release of their new line of Radial Ball Bearings featuring ZrO2 (Zirconia) Ceramic balls. To Complement LM76’s broad range of Linear Bearings that are FDA/UDSA/3A Dairy compliant, as well as linear bearings for extreme environments; they have added Deep Groove bearings which accommodate radial and axial loads, Angular Contact bearings for simultaneously handling radial and axial loads, Spherical Bearings which are self aligning, and Thrust Bearings for high axial loads. Each of the four types of metric bearings are available in a wide range sizes. Read more »

Motion Control – USDA Certified Stand-Off Bearing Flange Blocks with Si3N4 Silicon Nitride Hybrid Bearings, Set New Standard for Performance and Hygienics!

January 15th, 2026

Editor

Motion Control – USDA Certified Stand-Off Bearing Flange Blocks

E. Longmeadow, MA – Motion Control – FDA/USDA Certified, two, three and four post, Stand-Off Bearing Flange Blocks are setting a new standard for performance and Hygienics. These new Stand-off bearing flange blocks now available from LM76 reduce the surface area where mold and bacteria can thrive, even from the most through sanitizing operations. Long life Hybrid Stainless Steel Si3N4 Silicon Nitride Ceramic Ball Bearings in Stainless Steel bearing blocks are coated with a smooth non-water absorbing polyamide coating certified by EHEDG, USDA, and 3-A. Read more »