Abstract: A bearing rolling element with a lattice internal structure provides several advantages over a solid bearing. It is lighter than a solid bearing, reducing centrifugal forces. For ceramic bearings, less material is required, and sintering times are reduced because bonding material can flow easily to near the surface. Elements with an internal lattice also offer advantages over hollow rolling elements. The shell can be thinner without sacrificing load capacity. The thinner shell reduces the time required for bonding material to be removed during sintering. The blank can be formed using various additive manufacturing processes.

Abstract: A bearing rolling element with a lattice internal structure provides several advantages over a solid bearing. It is lighter than a solid bearing, reducing centrifugal forces. For ceramic bearings, less material is required, and sintering times are reduced because bonding material can flow easily to near the surface. Elements with an internal lattice also offer advantages over hollow rolling elements. The shell can be thinner without sacrificing load capacity. The thinner shell reduces the time required for bonding material to be removed during sintering. The blank can be formed using various additive manufacturing processes.

Abstract: A hollow bearing rolling element or a rolling element with a lattice internal structure provides several advantages over a solid bearing. It is lighter than a solid bearing. Less material is required and sintering times are reduced because bonding material can flow easily to near the surface. The blank is formed using an additive manufacturing processes which offers better uniformity than a conventional two die process, enabling production of blanks much closer to finished size. They also eliminate the “Saturn Ring” associated with the conventional process. This translates into reduced grinding allowances and shorter processing time reducing both material and finishing operations costs. These processes also enable the production of hollow elements and partially hollow elements further reducing material costs, addressing the problems inherent to core material removal and reducing sintering time.