Product family
JFK spherical plain bearings and rod ends
Precision and reliability for every application
The right solution for every connection, oscillation and angular compensation requirement
JFK Group offers a complete range of spherical plain bearings and rod ends for industrial applications requiring load transmission in the presence of misalignment, angular oscillation, or articulated connections between mechanical components.
Spherical plain bearings, rod ends, spherical joints, and related connection accessories (clevis forks, clips, and pins): every product guarantees verified quality, with availability and technical support ensured at every stage of the project.
JFK Group offers a complete range of spherical plain bearings and rod ends for industrial applications requiring load transmission in the presence of misalignment, angular oscillation, or articulated connections between mechanical components.
Spherical plain bearings, rod ends, spherical joints, and related connection accessories (clevis forks, clips, and pins): every product guarantees verified quality, with availability and technical support ensured at every stage of the project.
Guida tecnica
Spherical plain bearings and rod ends: design, function, and selection criteria
Spherical plain bearings and rod ends are mechanical components that enable articulated connections between moving parts, compensating for angular or axial misalignment through a spherical contact surface between the connected components. Selecting the right product depends on the load direction, load magnitude and type of stress, maintenance requirements, and the type of connection required (angular, linear, or axial). JFK Group supplies the complete range of industrial spherical plain bearings and rod ends: every product is selected, quality-checked, and technically supported. Spherical plain bearings and rod ends comply with the dimensional requirements of DIN 648 K and are therefore interchangeable with other metric products manufactured to the same standard.
JFK rod ends
Rod ends, also known as Uniball joints, available in relubricable and maintenance-free versions, with angular and linear spherical articulation. Designed to transmit tensile and compressive loads on control rods and cylinders in applications with misalignment. JFK spherical plain bearings
Radial, axial, and angular-contact spherical plain bearings (or spherical joints), available in maintenance-required, relubricable, or maintenance-free versions. The solution for accommodating radial, axial, or combined loads while compensating for misalignment between moving components.Catalogue
Products in this family
JFK angular ball joints
JFK angular ball joints, also known as angular joints or angular spherical joints, are connection components designed to join two parts at an angle…
JFK straight ball joints
JFK straight ball joints are connection components designed to transmit predominantly linear tensile or compressive loads along rods and tie rods, while the integrated…
SELECTION GUIDE
Things to consider before making a choice
The choice between a spherical plain bearing, rod end, or spherical joint mainly depends on the type of connection required between the components: a load-bearing rotating support, or an articulated connection between two elements that must transmit tensile or compressive forces in the presence of misalignment.
This is complemented by an assessment of the available maintenance conditions: where periodic lubrication is feasible, maintenance-required or relubricable versions are preferred, offering maximum performance; where access is difficult or hygiene requirements apply, maintenance-free hard chrome/PTFE versions eliminate the need for periodic maintenance.
Solutions
Find the right solution for your application
01
Do you need to support a load that undergoes angular oscillation?
In such cases, the optimal solution depends on the load direction: radial, axial, or combined. Radial spherical plain bearings are the most widely used choice for predominantly radial loads; as the axial component increases or in the presence of combined loads, axial or angular-contact spherical plain bearings are considered, typically mounted in opposed pairs.
Suitable product families
02
Do you need to transmit a tensile or compressive load on a threaded rod?
When a control rod or tie rod needs to be connected to a mechanical component while compensating for misalignment, rod ends are the dedicated solution. Available in relubricable versions for alternating and shock loads, or maintenance-free versions for clean environments or applications where access is difficult. Maintenance-free rod ends
Suitable product families
03
Are the parts to be joined perpendicular to each other or aligned?
Winding shape ball joint rod ends are used to connect perpendicular components while transmitting alternating loads; for in-line connections, typically at the ends of hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders, linear spherical joints compensate for deviations in parallelism and concentricity. Winding shape ball joint rod ends Straight ball joint rod ends
Suitable product families
04
Do you need a pin-based connection system?
When static loads are transmitted through a pin connection, clevis forks and their accessories (clips for quick disassembly or head pins for higher loads) form a complete, standardized connection system. Clevis forks Clevis fork clips Head pins for clevis forks
Suitable product families
Have a specific requirement?
Let’s discuss your project
JFK’s technical team analyses loads, speeds and operating conditions to identify the right solution.