Analysis of Technological Heredity in the Production of Rolling Bearing Rings Made of AISI 52100 Steel Based on Waviness Measurements

The production of rolling bearings is a complicated process that requires the use of many operations. The manufactured elements of rolling bearings should be of high quality while minimizing production costs. Despite many research studies related to the analysis of technological processes, there is still a lack of research and tools allowing us to satisfactorily assess the relationships between individual operations of the rolling bearing ring process of production and the quality. To perform such an assessment, one can use the concept of technological heredity phenomenon analysis. As the surface waviness of the bearing race is of key importance, the present paper aims at evaluating how the individual technological operations of the rolling bearing ring production process affect the formation of their surface waviness. The surface waviness of the bearing race was measured in both directions (two sections), i.e., along the circumference using the Talyrond 365 measurement system and across the circumference of the race using Talysurf PGI. The production of 6308-2z rolling bearings made of AISI (American Iron and Steel Institute) 52100 bearing steel was analyzed. The occurrence of the phenomenon of technological heredity in the production of rolling bearings was observed. The research results indicate that the turning operation reduces the surface waviness of the bearing rings obtained after forging, while the heat treatment causes a slight increase in surface waviness. On the other hand, grinding operation significantly reduces the waviness, with this reduction being greater for the outer ring. Furthermore, the research has shown that the waviness of the surface is an inheritance factor caused by individual operations of the rolling bearing rings manufacturing process.