Slewing Bearings in Communications and Aerospace Applications

In the communications and aerospace industries, components must demonstrate extreme precision, high reliability, and exceptional durability.    Slewing bearings, also known as turntable bearings, are critical components that support axial, radial, and moment loads while also enabling rotational motion.    From satellite antennas and radar tracking systems to aircraft turrets and space observatories, slewing bearings provide the stability, accuracy, and long life required in harsh environments.

LTZC has supplied over 1,200 high-precision slewing bearings to communications and aerospace projects worldwide, including geostationary satellite platforms, ground-based radar tracking towers, and drone stabilization systems.

Ⅰ. Bearing Applications In Communications

1.1 Satellite Communication Antennas

Satellite communication antenna bases require 360° horizontal rotation and ±90° elevation rotation to ensure precise signal alignment, and slewing bearings play a key role in this.    LTZC's crossed roller slewing bearings and four-point contact ball slewing bearings are widely used for their high rigidity and uniform load distribution, maintaining micron-level positioning accuracy under wind and dynamic loads.

Case Study: LTZC manufactured a 2-meter-diameter crossed cylindrical roller slewing bearing for a large ground satellite communication station, achieving ±0.01° antenna positioning accuracy in winds of force 12.

• Outer Diameter: 2000mm

• Inner Diameter: 1500mm

• Height: 250mm

• Maximum Radial Load: 320kN

• Maximum Axial Load: 210kN

• Maximum Speed: 5rpm

• Weight: 1800kg

1.2 Mobile Communication Base Stations

With the development of 5G communications, high-precision rotating antennas play a key role in small base stations.    Slewing bearings must be compact, low-wear, high-precision, and easy to maintain.    LTZC bearing manufacturers rigorously control their production processes, using advanced CNC production equipment to optimize raceways and processes, and offering lubrication and sealing solutions.    These bearings enable long-term continuous operation and maintain precise antenna pointing, thereby improving the coverage quality and stability of communication networks.

Ⅱ. Bearing Applications In Aerospace

2.1 Aircraft Engines: Combining High Loads with High Reliability

High-precision ball bearings, roller bearings, and tapered roller bearings are commonly used.    These bearings can not only withstand combined radial and axial loads, but also maintain lubricity and low friction under extreme temperature and pressure conditions.

2.2 Flight Control Systems: Ensuring Sensitive and Precise Control

Commonly used bearings include spherical plain bearings, rod end bearings, and ball bearings.    These bearings offer excellent fatigue resistance and low wear, maintaining long-term stable performance under high loads and frequent movement, thereby improving the responsiveness and reliability of flight control systems.

Common types include tapered roller bearings, roller bearings, and high-strength ball bearings.    These bearings offer high load capacity, excellent shock resistance, and exceptional fatigue life, effectively reducing vibration and wear, and enhancing overall aircraft safety.

2.3 Spacecraft Propulsion Systems: Supporting High-Precision Attitude and Trajectory Control

Common types include high-precision ball bearings, cylindrical roller bearings, and thrust bearings.    These bearings are typically made of special high-temperature-resistant alloys and solid lubricants to withstand extreme operating conditions such as vacuum, high speed, high heat, and extreme vibration.

Ⅲ. LTZC: Leading the Way in High-End Aerospace Bearing Manufacturing

As a professional slewing bearing manufacturer, LTZC is committed to providing high-precision, high-reliability bearing solutions for the aerospace and communications sectors.    LTZC's aerospace bearings are widely used in satellite antenna systems, radar turntables, drone steering mechanisms, flight control components, and rocket propulsion units.    We provide integrated support from design to customization for global customers.

★LTZC Communication and Aerospace Bearing solutions

① Precision bearings machining (P – P5 – P4 – P2 grade): Suitable for high-precision applications such as satellite antennas and optoelectronic payloads; low runout (≤5–10 μm, customizable); high rotational accuracy.

② Lightweight and thin-section structure: Split bearings can be designed for installation space constraints; high-strength materials are used.

③ High-rigidity/high-load-bearing crossed roller bearings: strong support precision and high load-bearing capacity.

④ Aerospace-grade materials and special treatments: Available in stainless steel (440C, 9Cr18), special high-temperature resistant steel, and ultra-clean bearing steel.

⑤ Low-temperature/high-temperature environment adaptability: Meets operating conditions from -60°C to +200°C.

⑥ Long-life maintenance-free lubrication: Vacuum-specific bearing lubricants and greases.

Our Advantages:

• Competitive pricing

• Customized bearings

• Over 20 years of bearing R&D experience

• Products with ISO9001 certification and third-party testing reports

• Advanced CNC equipment and manufacturing processes

• Provide samples and installation and maintenance guidance