Robotics Bearings

⚠ Disclaimer: This section may contain incomplete, out of date, or inaccurate entries. It is AI-maintained on a best-effort basis. Do not rely on it as a sole source — verify claims independently using the source materials listed in individual entries.

Overview

Bearings carry load and set stiffness and rotational accuracy in robot joints, gimbals and slewing mechanisms; thin-section bearings in particular let designers keep hollow bores for cabling in compact actuators. This section profiles US-located bearing makers that appear on the OpenTree component map. Information is company-sourced and the map’s own origin claims are unverified.

Companies

US-Based Makers

Company HQ Ownership / Stage Focus
SKF Kaydon Muskegon, MI SKF Group company Reali-Slim and Ultra-Slim thin-section bearings, slewing rings
Schatz Bearing Poughkeepsie, NY Acquired by Arxis, Inc. (reported Sept 2026) AS9100D precision, thin-section and space bearings
NHBB Peterborough, NH MinebeaMitsumi subsidiary Miniature, thin-section and airframe control bearings
Auburn Bearing & Manufacturing Macedon, NY Private Thrust bearings and custom machined components

Notes

  • Schaeffler (Danbury, CT) is pinned on the OpenTree bearings family but has no entry yet.
  • Three of the four profiled makers are owned by foreign or financial-sponsor-backed groups (SKF, MinebeaMitsumi, Arxis); OpenTree’s rule excludes only PRC-controlled makers.
  • Related: Actuators for joint-level integration.

Entries

  • Auburn Bearing & Manufacturing — Macedon, NY maker of ball and roller thrust bearings and custom machined components; tradition dating to Auburn Ball Bearing (1898); combined with Fairport Products in 2013; adds US-made precision radial bearings; ISO 9001:2015 reported.
  • NHBB (New Hampshire Ball Bearings) — Peterborough, NH precision ball and roller bearing maker, a MinebeaMitsumi subsidiary and part of MinebeaMitsumi Aerospace; miniature, thin-section and airframe control bearings qualified to AS7949; focus on aerospace, defense, high technology and medical.
  • Schatz Bearing — Poughkeepsie, NY precision, thin-section and aerospace ball bearing maker; AS9100D, ISO 9001:2015 and Nadcap facility; reports acquisition by Arxis, Inc. on September 2, 2026; robotics and automation bearing experience.
  • SKF Kaydon — Muskegon, MI thin-section and slewing-ring bearing maker, an SKF Group company; Reali-Slim and Ultra-Slim bearings for aerospace, robotics, medical and semiconductor; OpenTree pins Muskegon, Sumter SC and Avon OH.