Pioneer Motor Bearing

09/19/2023

We just received a pair right angle heads for our new DMG 5-axis machine. We continue to build the tool library out, but it holds over 120 tools so we've still got some work to do! These right angle heads are being used for intricate/tight drilling and In this case we're working on the ID of a new labyrinth seal.

08/24/2023

America’s first energy source, , is being celebrated today, ! to keeping the lights on in our homes and businesses, and every year, we love to take the opportunity to share how hydro benefits our lives each and every day!

05/04/2023

Here’s our Rotordynamics Engineer performing a preload assessment on a batch of springs that support a hydroelectric thrust bearing. The bearing is located in a powerhouse built in the 1940s that’s part of the famous Feather River Canyon “Stairway of Power” in northern California. The customer engaged Pioneer to conduct an assessment of their existing thrust bearing spring geometry and count

03/28/2023

Here’s a pair of babbitt bearings that we’ve reverse engineered from an old, worn out casting. This set is being manufactured from forgings and is part of a forced draft fan for a boiler unit. After the bearing was centrifugally cast we semi finish the bore to allow us to UT test 100% of the bond. In this case we found a small unbonded area that will be cleaned fixed. That’s our brand new Trak TRL 2470RX CNC lathe in the background.

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09/26/2022

Don't throw out those ! As you can see by the photos we received some heavily damaged, worn, and definitely dirty bearings from a cruise ship. We were able to refurbish this bearing to operating condition, saving the customer time and money vs. replacing it with a new bearing.

08/24/2022

It’s National Day! Let's honor the nation’s first renewable resource that provides clean, carbon-free energy to roughly 30 million Americans, and 31 percent of the United States' overall renewable electricity.

10/08/2020

Our prayers go up for the safety of all the employees of Pioneer’s oldest electric utility customer, especially those who support the Buck’s Creek Powerhouse in California’s Feather River Canyon, for whom this week we are shipping out of our North Carolina plant new larger bearings we designed and manufactured to replace existing bearings in support of the powerhouse’s major upgrade project. Having worked at the plant and in Pacific Gas and Electric Company's De Sabla hydro district, we know first-hand how the extremely difficult wilderness terrain challenges the experienced and courageous fire-fighting crews now risking their lives on the front lines.

On October 5th, strategic tactical firing operations were conducted around the penstocks and PGE powerhouse. As a result of focused firefighting efforts in this area, there was no damage to the penstocks and the PGE powerhouse. All structures are sound.

Forest Service photo by Stuart Palley.

10/01/2019

Prepping to cast a 28" (ID) nuclear generator bearing.

09/13/2019

Making sure this hydro thrust shoe is perfectly flat. Very tight tolerances on this one. We can measure flatness to 20 millionths of an inch with this indicator. Modifications to the shoe were then scrutinized with a helium leak test. http://ow.ly/wx9150w8xdE

09/10/2019

Now that's one heck of a before and after! For 99 years Pioneer Motor Bearing has been the leader in the refurbishment of babbitt bearings, such as this one for a cruise ship. www.pioneer1.com