Rod Ends from Automotion
A rod end is an articulating joint typically used on the ends of control rods or tie rods where a clevis joint or ball joint is not precise enough or not capable of taking the loads involved in the application. Sometimes known as a heim joint or rose joint, it comprises a spherical bearing located in a housing with either a male or female thread to enable easy installation. A connecting bolt or shaft is located through the spherical bearing which allows for some angular misalignment.
Rod End Options
Economy male rod end, K series. This is our most cost effective male rod end.
Economy female rod end, K series. This is our most cost effective female rod end.
Heavy duty rod end (male) with plain bearing. Maintenance-free K series, ideal for vibrating or shock load applications.
Heavy duty rod end with plain bearing. Maintenance-free K series, ideal for applications with vibrating or shock loads.
Stainless steel female rod end from our Economy range. Also available in zinc-plated steel (R3571).
Stainless steel female rod end from our Economy range. Also available in zinc-plated steel (R3570).
Stainless steel heavy duty female rod end with plain spherical bearing.
Stainless steel heavy duty male rod end with plain spherical bearing.
Heavy duty male rod end. E series rod end with a thinner profile width.
Heavy duty female rod end. E series rod end with a thinner profile width.
Used when an articulating joint is held within a housing and the threaded portion of a standard rod end is not required.
Female Rod Ends with studs; also available in stainless steel (R3613).
Stainless steel heavy duty female rod end with ball bearings in the raceway.
Stainless steel heavy-duty male rod end – E series.
Stainless steel heavy-duty female rod end – E series.
Heavy-duty male rod end with ball bearings in the raceway.
Heavy-duty female rod end with ball bearings in the raceway.
Features
Heavy Duty Rod Ends: integral spherical plain bearings - series K and series E
Male and female rod ends, maintenance free. These are our most popular range of heavy duty rod ends. Bore diameters 5mm up to 30mm.
Spherical Plain Bearings: steel and stainless steel
R3640 is our lowest cost, most popular option spherical bearing. Stainless steel versions R3641 and R3642 requires maintenance. R3640, R3644, and stainless steel R3645 is maintenance free. Bore diameters 5mm up to 30mm.
Heavy Duty Rod Ends: integral ball bearings - series K and series E
Male and female rod ends. Different bore sizes in relation to the thread size. All require maintenance. Bore diameters 6mm up to 30mm.
Stainless Steel Heavy Duty Rod Ends: integral spherical plain bearings
Male and female rod ends maintenance free.
Low Cost Rod Ends: with spherical plain bearing
These are our most popular male and female rod ends. Maintenance free. Female-bore diameters 5mm up to 12mm. Male-bore diameters 5mm up to 16mm.
Rod Ends with Studs
Steel and Stainless steel, male and female, maintenance free. Sizes M6 up to M16.
Plain Spherical bearings
AÂ Made from Poylamid-PTFE-fibreglass-compound, maintenance free, absorbs any foreign particles.
BÂ Ball made of bearing steel, hardened, ground, polished and hard chromium plated, ensures reliable corrosion protection.
C No Clearance - radial clearance 0-10µm.
DÂ All rod end housings made of forged steel, tempered, extremely high loads resistant.
Ball and roller bearings
A Radial clearance: 10-30µm, low friction
BÂ Â Inner ring made of bearing steel, hardened ball grooves polished
CÂ Â Shields on both sides protect against rough dirt penetration.
DÂ Â All rod ends housings are made of forged steel, case hardened bearing race.
EÂ Â Low maintenance due to long-term greasing, especially suitable for high speed large swiveling angles or rotating movements
Rod ends and water - Stainless Steel Versions
Most of our rod ends are available in stainless steel as standard. High grade AISI 316 stainless steel available on request.
Rod Ends with Integral Maintenance-free Spherical Plain Bearings
In many cases, Heavy-duty Rod Ends with integral spherical plain bearings are most often used. They are, above all, used for small swivelling or tilting movements at low speeds. They stand out for their high load capacity and can also be used for shock-like loads. The Rod End Ball slides on a plastic bearing shell, consisting of a glass fibre-filled nylon/teflon compound. This design assures a maintenance-free Rod End. Heavy-duty Plain Bearing Rod Ends have slight initial movement friction and virtually no clearance. The plastic material used has another advantage in that, it can absorb many foreign particles so that no damage can occur. The balls of Heavy-duty Rod Ends with Integral Spherical Plain Bearings are hard chrome plated. This reliable corrosion protection ensures, that the function of the rod end will not be affected by a corroded ball surface under humid operating conditions.
Rod Ends with Integral Ball Bearings
This design is especially suitable for high speeds, large swivelling angles or rotating movements with relatively low or medium loads. Prominent technical features are the low bearing friction, long-time greasing as well as the sealing against some dirt penetration (by means of shields on both sides). Under normal operating conditions, the Rod Ends are maintenance-free. Greasing nipples are provided for lubrication, in case of rough operations and maximum loads. To avoid incompatibility with the production lubrication, we recommend lubrication with a calcium-complex-soap-grease. A special heat treatment procedure gives the Rod End housing a raceway hardness, adapted to the anti-friction bearing, ensuring at the same time high stability with changing loads.
Rod Ends with Integral Roller Bearings
This design, based on the structure of a Self-aligning Roller Bearing, is preferably used for high speed, large tilting angles or rotating movements under high loads. Compared to rod ends with ball bearings, Rod Ends with Self-aligning Roller Bearings essentially have higher basic load ratings. This design is equipped with a cage to minimise the rolling friction and heat build-up. These Rod Ends, with long-time lubrication are under normal operating conditions maintenance-free. Greasing nipples are provided for lubrication in case of rough operations and maximum loads. To avoid incompatibility with the production lubrication, we recommend lubricating with a calcium-complex-soap-grease. Shields on both sides limit dirt particles from penetrating into the bearing. The Rod Ends with Roller Bearings are subjected to a special heat treatment to obtain a raceway hardness adapted to the antifriction bearings, ensuring at the same time a high stability with changing loads.
FAQs
What are Rod Ends used for?
Rod ends are typically used to connect the ends of control rods, tie rods for the purposes of mechanical control. Helping to achieve precisely controlled motion in articulating mechanisms without damaging deflections or misalignment, rod ends provide an extremely effective point-to-point contact with the center of rotation lying on the axis of both attached shafts.
What's the difference between Male and Female Rod Ends?
Rod ends are classified as either male or female, with both options allowing different mounting approaches in different applications. Male rod ends feature external threads whilst female rod ends have internal threads. Left-hand and right-hand threads are also available. For expert technical support and advise please contact us today.
What are the advantages of Rod Ends?
Rod ends are extremely robust and our steel rod ends are able to withstand high static load capacities and dissipate heat more efficiently. Rod ends are perfectly suited to all types of motion, including rotating, oscillating, and linear.
