A new approach to measure the friction coefficient of micro journal bearings

A new approach and relevant test rig to measure the friction of micro journal bearings are introduced in this paper. The micro bearings under the load of milliNewton scale can be tested to indicate their tribological behavior. The test rig has the following features. (1) The separated bearing halves are attached to the journal with a soft string wrapped around them. The string is strained in a vertical line with the upper end located at a beam and the lower end hanged with a standard weight, which supplies pressure between the bearing and the journal, without bending the spindling journal. (2) The frictional force of the rotating journal on the bearing halves will result in a difference between the forces at the two string ends. (3) This force difference can be sensitively detected by strain gauges on the beam. Therefore, the micro friction between the bearing and the spinning journal can be detected and indicated.