Following successful applications in wind turbines and paper machines, FAG has launched a new range of HMZ locknuts which offer ease of handling and accurate and secure axial locking of bearings and other machine parts on shafts.
The new range can generally be used for the same applications as grooved nuts or locknuts (KM, HM) with lock washers or locking clamps (MB,MS) and are reliable locking devices that provide a frictional connection. They can also be used to fasten and lock bearings on cylindrical or tapered shafts or on adapter sleeves.
The HMZ series offers simplified mounting with no fitting of lock washers or locking clamps and are easy to screw onto shafts thanks to shaft thread without retention grooves. Axial clamping screws provide a secure grip for the user and bearings can be locked in any axial position.
The range is fully interchangeable with conventional locknuts and frictional connection prevents the locknuts from working loose.The new series also offers significant cost savings for the user as there is no need to replace damaged lock washers or locking clamps when bearings need to be replaced.
FAG's locknuts have already proved popular with manufacturers of wind turbines, with them being used to lock the main bearings and to securely lock bearings and gear wheels within gears and generators.
In paper machines they have been used to prevent the shaft journal from weakening and to simplify the production process, especially in the production of rotationally symmetric rolls and roll journals.
HMZ locknuts are made of steel with a minimum tensile strength of 350 MPa. FAG recommends that bearings with HMZ locknuts are mounted using the hydraulic method.