A wedge-shaped piece of hardened steel or jewel that rests its sharp edge against a flat or V-shaped bearing surface. It acts as a pivot point that supports a load while allowing oscillation with nearly zero friction. These pivots are heavily utilized in precision weighing scales, pendulums, and sensitive mechanical triggers where rolling or sliding friction would ruin accuracy.
Heard on the job
The scale is out of calibration because dust built up on the knife-edge pivot.
Also heard as
- knife-edge bearing
- knife-edge pivot