A new ASTM International standard that covers annular ball bearings intended primarily for use in instrument and precision rotating components has been developed as a conversion of a U.S. military standard, MIL-B-81793F, Annular Ball Bearings, for Instruments and Precision Rotating Components. The new standard, F 2332, Specification for Annular Ball Bearings for Instruments and Precision Rotating Components, is under the jurisdiction of Subcommittee F34.06 on Aerospace, part of Committee F34 on Rolling Element Bearings.
 
According to Richard Abanto, F34.06 member and standardization engineer, Naval Air Systems Command, the development of ASTM F 2332 was the result of the U.S. Department of Defense Acquisition Reform Program of the late 1990s, in which the contents of many military standards were transferred to commercial or non-government standards bodies in cases where the standards were being used in the private as well as the military sector.
 
The bearings covered in F 2332 are used in precision instrumentation, including avionics, guidance systems, computer manufacturing and satellites. Users of the standard will include the aircraft and space divisions of aerospace companies, as well as computer manufacturers and electronic component companies. The standard includes 36 annexes that contain specification sheets describing various precision bearing configurations.
 
All interested parties are invited to participate in the standards developing activities of Committee F34. “We’re always looking for new members to help revise our existing bearings documents, as well as advance the state of bearing materials, lubrication, manufacturing, cleaning, handling and even packaging,” says Abanto. “Anyone who is interested in precision bearings and related topics such as lubrication and cleaning is welcome.” Abanto also notes that, in addition to bearing manufacturers, users from the military, aerospace companies and computer manufacturers are encouraged to join Committee F34.
 
ASTM International standards are available for purchase from Customer Service (phone: 610/832-9585; https://www.astm.org/contact/) or at www.astm.org. For further technical information, contact Richard Abanto, Naval Air Systems Command, Lakehurst, N.J. (phone: 732/323-2120; richard.abanto@navy.mil). Committee F34 meets Nov. 13-15 at the November Committee Week in Tampa, Fla. For membership or meeting information, contact Joseph Hugo, manager, Technical Committee Operations, ASTM International (phone: 610/832-9740; jhugo@astm.org).

Release #7704