Take Up Bearing Units

A pillow block (UCP200) has a fixed base that bolts directly to the machine frame — the bearing position is fixed once installed. A take-up unit (UCT200) has a slotted frame that allows the housing to be slid along the frame rail by a tensioning screw, moving the shaft centreline to tension a belt or chain without removing the shaft. The UC insert bearing, setscrew locking, and bore options are identical between UCP200 and UCT200 — inserts are fully interchangeable for the same bore size.

Yes. The UC series wide inner ring insert is identical for equivalent bore sizes across all four housing formats: UCT200 (take-up), UCP200 (pillow block), UCF200 (4-bolt square flange), and UCFL200 (2-bolt oval flange). Stocking one UC insert type covers all standard-duty mounted bearing positions on the same machine.

N2 is the slot arc length — the maximum distance the housing can travel along the frame rail from one end of the slot to the other. It represents the total tensioning adjustment range available. When designing a take-up frame, allow N2 clearance beyond the nominal bearing position in the take-up direction, plus additional clearance for initial installation misalignment. For example, UCT208 (40 mm bore) has N2=49 mm; UCT310 (50 mm bore, heavy duty) has N2=61 mm.

Choose NAT200 when the conveyor or drive runs in one direction continuously and the take-up frame is subject to sustained vibration from the belt load. The eccentric collar self-tightens under shaft rotation, providing a grip that increases with operating load — on high-vibration frames this prevents the incremental loosening that setscrew units can experience over extended service intervals. NAT200 must not be used on reversing drives: the collar releases when the shaft rotates opposite to the collar lock direction. For reversing take-up positions, use UCT200 setscrew or UET200 concentric collar.

In a take-up unit, the shaft is periodically released and retightened as belt tension is adjusted over the service life. Each time a setscrew take-up unit is re-tensioned, the setscrew tightens against the same shaft position, progressively creating fretting damage and eventually preventing reliable re-locking. The UKT200+H adapter sleeve releases completely from the shaft on disassembly — the shaft surface is never contacted by the sleeve during release — so repeated tensioning adjustments over years of service leave the shaft surface undamaged and immediately reusable.

UCT200 and UCST200 are dimensionally identical in all frame parameters (N1, N2, L, L1, L2, L3, H, H1, H2, A, A2, B, S) and use the same UC insert bearing. The only difference is the A1 dimension — the width of the slot opening in the housing body. UCST200 has a wider A1 (13.5–27 mm depending on bore size) versus UCT200 (12–22 mm). This wider slot provides more clearance for the frame bolt head and spanner during tensioning adjustment in installations where the machine frame or guard structure leaves minimal access at the bolt position. For standard installations with unobstructed bolt access, UCT200 is the correct choice.