While the ball bearing might be among Leonardo Da Vinci's less celebrated inventions, it's arguably one of his most important. Though it was initially designed as part of his failed helicopter ...

If the utility of an invention were somehow derived from the genius of its inventor, it would be pardonable that so many sources trace the idea for the ball bearing to a 1497 drawing by Leonardo da ...

The escapement mechanism has been widely used for centuries in mechanical clocks. It is the mechanism by which a clock controls the release of stored energy, allowing it to advance in small, precise ...

Caged balls are widely deployed in motion systems throughout industry. Whether used in ball bearings, linear guides, or ballscrew actuators, caged balls bring both performance and practicality. The ...

The bearing assembly in your bike’s headstock is the only thing securing the front wheel, fork, and handlebar to the rest of your bike. Seems like pretty critical componentry, right? Odds are, however ...

Unground ball bearings may be wholly unground, ground in part, or wholly ground, but are characterized by precision levels less than ABEC 1. They are available in the traditional ball bearing forms to ...

This piece comes from Scott Carrier. Scott is an American writer, radio producer, and lecturer. His work has appeared on programs like “This American Life” and “All Things Considered,” among others.