Ball Screws
Ball screws and matching nuts in SFK, SFU, SFS, SFY, DFS, and DFI series. Specify the model, length, and quantity for a quote.
Products
Rod-End Bearings
Rod-end bearings with male or female threads and spherical plain (joint) bearings for linkage joints, cylinders, conveyors, and automation machines. Radial, angular-contact, and thrust series, with self-lubricating liner options; custom shank lengths and threads available. Send your application and thread size for a quotation.
How rod ends and spherical plain bearings are divided
A rod end is a spherical plain bearing fitted into a housing with a threaded shank. The first decision is the thread. Female thread suits a stud or threaded rod that passes into the joint; male thread suits a shank that screws into a tapped hole, a tube end, or a clevis block. Choose by the mating thread, not by habit. If the mating thread is still on the machine, measure it or photograph it before asking for a quotation.
A spherical plain bearing on its own is only the joint: an inner ring with a spherical sliding surface inside an outer ring. Choose it when you press the bearing into your own housing, weld or machine your own link, or replace only the bearing inside an existing rod end. Choose a complete rod end when the joint and the threaded shank arrive as one piece and mount directly.
The series describes how the load travels through the joint. Radial series take load across the axis and allow the joint to tilt, so they suit links that only swing. Angular-contact series take a combined pull or push with side load, so they fit cylinder ends and linkage points loaded at an angle. Thrust series take load along the axis of the shank with little misalignment, so they suit points that push and pull almost in line. Thread hand works in pairs: one right-hand and one left-hand end on the same link let you turn the link to change its length without removing either end, so state the hand of each end in the RFQ.
Model families split by structure: GIH and GIS are locking rod ends, GAS is the welded type, PHS and POS are the insert type, SI and SA are assembled ends, PHSB and POSB are the inch series, and NHS and NOS are the steel-to-steel series. The family name only describes the structure, so the thread, hand, and load direction still decide the selection.
| Type or option | Where the load goes | Selection note |
|---|---|---|
| Female thread rod end | Link pivots on a threaded stud | Choose when a stud or threaded rod enters the joint. |
| Male thread rod end | Shank screws into a tapped part | Choose when the mating part has an internal thread. |
| Spherical plain bearing | Joint only, no shank | Choose when you press it into your own housing or link. |
| Radial series | Load across the axis, joint can tilt | For swinging links with little axial load. |
| Angular-contact series | Combined radial and axial load | For cylinder ends and linkage points loaded at an angle. |
| Thrust series | Load along the axis | For in-line push and pull with little misalignment. |
| Self-lubricating liner | Sliding contact without grease access | Choose when grease cannot be added on schedule. |
| Left and right hand pair | Link length set by turning | State the hand of each end when enquiring. |
What to state in the RFQ
Thread and hand come first: thread size, pitch, and whether each end is right-hand or left-hand. When the mating thread is on the machine, send its measurement or a photo of the mating part. Then the type: male or female rod end, spherical plain bearing alone or a complete rod end, and radial, angular-contact, or thrust series.
Next, the working conditions. State the load direction: pull, push, or both; radial, axial, or combined; steady or reversing. State how the joint moves: a small tilt, a swing through an arc, or continuous rotation. State whether a self-lubricating liner is needed, or whether the joint is greased and how often.
Application and environment decide the remaining details. Name the machine and the mounting position: a linkage, a cylinder end, a conveyor, an automation unit, or a replacement on an existing machine. Describe the surroundings: dust, chips, washdown or coolant, outdoor weather, or a dry running point. Then the quantity, sample and batch, and whether this is a first order or a repeat purchase. A model number alone rarely covers all of this, so mark unknown items as pending instead of leaving them out.
| RFQ item | Why it is needed |
|---|---|
| Thread size, pitch, and hand | Sets the mating fit and the direction of adjustment. |
| Type and series | Separates male or female, complete rod end or bearing alone, and radial, angular-contact, or thrust. |
| Liner or lubrication method | Shows whether the joint can run without scheduled greasing. |
| Load direction | States whether the load is radial, axial, or combined. |
| Motion type | Separates a small tilt, a swing, and continuous rotation. |
| Application and mounting position | Places the joint in the linkage, cylinder, conveyor, or automation unit. |
| Environment | Dust, washdown, coolant, and outdoor conditions change the option. |
| Quantity and purchase type | Sample or batch, first order or repeat. |
Replacement parts: measuring the old joint and custom shank length
For a replacement, measure the old part before writing the RFQ. Record the thread diameter and pitch with a thread gauge or by counting threads over a measured length, the bore that the pin or stud passes through, the shank length from the thread end to the centre of the ball, the thread hand, and the width across the spanner flats. Photograph the whole part next to a rule, the thread, the ball bore, and any marking. If the mating thread is still on the machine, measure or photograph that as well.
Ask for a custom shank length or thread when the mating thread is not standard, when the joint has to sit at a fixed centre distance on the link, when the adjustment range of the linkage matters, or when you machine the link yourself. A dimensioned sketch or drawing carries more information than a photo alone. Mark which dimensions are measured, which are copied from the old part, and which are still to be confirmed, so the quotation states its basis.
When the old part carries no marking, or a photo is the only record, send the photo together with the dimensions you could take, rather than one unclear picture. The measurement order and photo routine for replacement parts are described in more detail in the technical guides, and rod end replacements follow the same order.
First RFQ checklist
Copy this list into your first email. Partial information is workable when the unknown items are marked as pending.
- Purchase type and quantity: new build, replacement, or distributor stock; sample and batch quantity; packing and label requirements.
- Type: male or female rod end, or a spherical plain bearing on its own.
- Series: radial, angular-contact, or thrust.
- Model family: GIH/GIS, GAS, PHS/POS, SI/SA, PHSB/POSB, or NHS/NOS.
- Thread: size, pitch, and the hand of each end; measurement or photo of the mating thread.
- Liner: self-lubricating liner needed, or the current lubrication method and interval.
- Load and motion: pull, push, or both; a small tilt, a swing, or continuous rotation.
- Application and environment: linkage, cylinder, conveyor, automation unit; dust, washdown, coolant, outdoor.
- Replacement part: old-part photos and measured dimensions, plus a drawing if one exists.
Products
Related Products
Rod ends and spherical plain bearings sit at the joint end of a drive train: the ball screw, linear guide, or linear module produces the motion, and the rod end connects it to a link, a lever, or a cylinder. When one part of a machine is repaired, the mating part is often replaced in the same order. Check the three families below against the same machine, and if the mating part is also unknown, send photos and application notes with the RFQ.
Linear Guides
MGN/MGW miniature guides, HG and EG series (HGH/HGW, EGH/EGW), and SBR or TBR round rails with matching carriages for machine builds, repairs, and distributor orders.
Linear Modules
XGB screw-driven and XTB timing belt-driven linear modules with matching motor mounts, in sizes from 75 to 210. Specify travel, load, and speed so the application and quotation can be checked.
FAQ
Questions before sending an RFQ
These three points come up most often in rod end and spherical plain bearing enquiries.
Can you quote from a model number or a photo alone?
A model number or a photo shows which family the part belongs to, but thread size, thread hand, bore, and shank length still have to be confirmed. While they are open, the quotation is issued subject to dimension confirmation.
Is the self-lubricating liner option needed?
Choose the liner when the joint has no practical grease access and has to run dry. If the machine is greased on a schedule, say how and how often. When the environment is unclear, describe the application and mark the option as pending.
When is a custom shank length or thread needed?
When the mating thread is not standard, when the joint must sit at a fixed centre distance, when the linkage needs a defined adjustment range, or when you machine the link yourself. Send a dimensioned drawing or sketch and mark which dimensions are measured and which are still to be confirmed.