Experimental Assessment of PA6 Bearing Housing Pressed-Fit for Enhanced Reliability and Multiple Maintenance Process

This paper presents an experimental method for determining the suitable bore diameter of bearing housings made of polymer designated as PA6, which enables multiple bearing replacement processes. Preceded by analytical calculation, four distinct series of housing samples (each with varying production tolerances) were subjected to testing, where each series comprised three housing samples with identical tolerance specifications. The assembly and disassembly processes of press-fit joints were thoroughly monitored using a force sensor, complemented by equipment for measuring the roughness of contact surfaces. Based on the experimental findings, a recommendation is provided for an appropriate interference fit for the tested bearing housing, providing a suitable solution for multiple maintenance processes. As a summary, the idea of this research is to define the prototype solution for the interference fit of a rolling bearing installed in a PA6 housing. Methods used to examine the proposed solution were surface topography and roundness measuring of PA6 housings, while the press-fitting and dismantling tests of rolling bearings in/from PA6 housings were used to verify it.