BCHL Ball Transfer Unit | Hex Head Stud Mount | 304 Stainless Steel | JDF
The BCHL Series Ball Transfer Unit is a hex-head stud mounted omnidirectional load-bearing unit with a 440C stainless steel main ball and 304 stainless steel body. The main ball is surrounded by multiple sub-balls, creating a small friction coefficient that allows workpieces to be transported with minimal force in any 360° direction. The hex-head stud design enables quick installation and easy replacement using a standard wrench, making it ideal for conveyor systems, assembly lines, and packaging operations where maintenance accessibility is critical.
How to select the right BCHL unit:
Determine the weight of the heaviest item to be moved.
Estimate the minimum number of units that will bear the load at any moment (typically 3-4 for flat loads).
Divide the total load by the minimum supporting units to get the nominal load per unit.
Apply a safety factor: divide the rated capacity by 2 for steady handling, or by 3 for shock/impact or continuous duty.
Calculate the maximum spacing between units: divide the shortest edge of the load by 2.5.
Select the model whose rated capacity exceeds the required per-unit load after applying the safety factor.
Example: For a 100 kg load supported by 4 units, the nominal load per unit is 25 kg. With a safety factor of 2, the required rated capacity is 50 kg (approx. 490 N). BCHL16 (343 N) or BCHL20 (412 N) may be suitable depending on the actual number of supporting units.
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Technical Specifications Table
| Model | Thread M | Pitch (mm) | L (mm) | L1 (mm) | H (mm) | d (mm) | S (mm) | Allowable Load N (kgf) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BCHL5 | M5 | 0.8 | 6 | 1.1 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 12 (1.2) |
| BCHL6 | M6 | 1.0 | 8 | 1.2 | 6 | 4.76 | 10 | 14 (1.4) |
| BCHL8 | M8 | 1.25 | 10 | 1.5 | 7 | 5.56 | 13 | 41 (4.2) |
| BCHL10 | M10 | 1.5 | 12 | 2.5 | 10 | 8.73 | 17 | 55 (5.6) |
| BCHL12 | M12 | 1.75 | 15 | 3.5 | 11 | 10.32 | 19 | 62 (6.3) |
| BCHL16 | M16 | 2.0 | 20 | 5.3 | 15 | 15.87 | 24 | 343 (35) |
| BCHL20 | M20 | 2.5 | 25 | 6.3 | 18 | 19.05 | 30 | 412 (42) |
Typical Applications
The BCHL Series Ball Transfer Unit is widely used in the following applications:
Conveyor Systems & Transfer Points: Direction changes at conveyor curves or intersections, with hex-head stud mounting for quick replacement
Assembly Lines & Workstations: Multi-directional transfer and positioning of workpieces between stations
Packaging & Inspection Stations: Free movement of workpieces on packaging or inspection tables
Mold Handling & Changing: 360° movement and positioning of molds on mold change carts
Logistics & Warehousing Equipment: Low-friction movement of heavy loads on transfer tables or storage racks
