What type of bearings are used in high quality production machines?

I have a POS Powermatic PM 2700 5hp shaper that I bought new about 5-6 years ago and I need to replace the bearings for the second time. The first time I had a bearing seize, and Powermatic sent me a whole spindle assembly under warranty.

It seems like the lower bearing is in worse shape than the top bearing, probably because of the side loading the belt puts on the bearing.

I'm thinking about ordering a quill and shaft from Powermatic, and having a machine shop install high quality bearings on the shaft. The stock bearings from Powermatic are ball bearings, obviously of low quality. I'm thinking of asking the machine shop if they could use a high quality roller bearing on the bottom, and a roller thrust bearing on the top side. It seems like with the ball bearing, there just isn't enough support to make the assembly last.

What type of bearings do real shapers use?

It's not so much the type of bearings as it is the size. Your machine probably uses the same bearings the old 26/27's did? Fine for a lot of work, but not to be compared with the "high quality production machines".

For some perspective, this is the bearing from a larger Martin/SCM shaper….with the little guy sitting inside being the bearing from a Powermatic 27. The other pic is of the quill from a Powermatic next to a Martin. This is a large part of what makes a high quality production machine what it is.

Point being that there's no bearing that will make your light duty machine into a production machine. In my opinion your best bet is to replace the bearings and use the machine until you can find yourself a larger replacement. Oh and FWIW the bearings Powermatic used back then were of pretty good quality, not sure if they went cheaper on the newer 2700's though?

good luck,
JeffD

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Great pictures Jeff! That really puts things into perspective!

If you contact the people at Bearings Inc, they can get you a grade or three better than what you are replacing, as well as advise you on the better choices. They have outlets in most larger cities. They are very knowledgeable folks, but you better move fast as they are closing outlets all over the US with the internet underpricing them all. You may pay a couple of bucks more per unit, but you get solid knowledge and advise along with the part.

Jeff's point is clear - it ain't only bearings. I had a Powermatic shaper that had the quill's vertical movement in dovetailed ways. While the ways were adjustable, the whole thing had all the weight on one side, so the ways wore extremely fast, and they were almost impossible to lube. As a result, it was common for the guy that got stuck using it (instead of the preferred SCMI) to grab the spindle to see if it wobbled before he turned it on. If it was loose, then he'd go underneath and try to tighten the ways. The worst design ever for a shaper.

JeffD - You have a future in machine sales. Good machines, that is.

Bearings Inc.