Tables That Feature Bearing Friction


I recently had the opportunity to audition the DPS turntable which, unlike most tables, has a certain amount of friction designed into the bearing. This, when paired with a high quality/high torque motor, is said to allow for greater speed stability--sort of like shifting to a lower gear when driving down a steep hill and allowing the engine to provide some breaking effect and thus greater vehicular stability. I am intrigued by this idea and was wondering what other people thought about this design approach. Are there other tables which use this bearing principal? One concern I have is that by introducing friction you may also be introducing noise. Comments?
dodgealum

Showing 1 response by frank_sm

I think the correct term is "bearing drag", not bearing "friction". Friction would implicate 2 surfaces contacting each other and if that was the case there would be no place for oil, and as such, you would have a very noisy bearing.
Furthermore, a well made bearing would have a hardened shaft, be cylinderically ground, and the bearing housing would be honed to accept the rotating shaft with perhaps 0.0001"-0.0002" clearance at most.