Bearings
Notes on Ball Bearings
Bearing Nomenclature
You can learn a lot about a bearing just from its part number. A typical bearing is the 6203ZZ bearing. This part number can be divided into it 's components: 6203ZZ which means: Type Code Series Bore Suffix The type code indicates the type of bearing. While each manufacturer uses their own numbers, there are a few numbers that could be considered standard in the industry.
Self-Aligning Ball Bearing This kind of ball bearing has a spherical outer race, allowing the axis of the bearing to "wander around". This is important because misalignment is one of the big causes of bearing failure.
1
2
Spherical Roller Bearing
Double-Row Angular Contact Ball Bearing 3 Designed to take axial as well as radial loads.
Double-Row Ball Bearing 4 Designed for heavy radial loads.
Thrust Ball Bearing 5 Intended for exclusively axial loads.
Single-Row Deep Groove Ball Bearing 6 Typical ball bearing. Handles light axial loads as well as radial loads.
Single-Row Angular Contact Bearing 7 For axial (one direction only!) as well as radial loads.
Felt Seal To assure that the entire inside edge of the seal touches the inner ring, the inner ring is enlarged. If a bearing of more normal proportions is required, the outer ring is also enlarged, and the bearing is referred to as a "wide cup" bearing. Tapered Roller Bearing 32 This is the kind of wheel bearings used in cars. The rollers are not cylindrical, but conical. They handle large raidal and axial loads. Inch (Non-Metric) Bearing Cylindrical Roller Bearing Instead of balls, cylindrical rollers are used. These bearings can handle much more radial load, but can handle much less axial load, than ball bearings. Varies
8
R
N
Double-Row Roller Bearing NN Handles greater radial loads than standard cylindrical roller bearings.
Needle Roller Bearing NA Needle bearings are basically roller bearings, but the rollers are much smaller, making the bearing more
Bearing Nomenclature
You can learn a lot about a bearing just from its part number. A typical bearing is the 6203ZZ bearing. This part number can be divided into it 's components: 6203ZZ which means: Type Code Series Bore Suffix The type code indicates the type of bearing. While each manufacturer uses their own numbers, there are a few numbers that could be considered standard in the industry.
Self-Aligning Ball Bearing This kind of ball bearing has a spherical outer race, allowing the axis of the bearing to "wander around". This is important because misalignment is one of the big causes of bearing failure.
1
2
Spherical Roller Bearing
Double-Row Angular Contact Ball Bearing 3 Designed to take axial as well as radial loads.
Double-Row Ball Bearing 4 Designed for heavy radial loads.
Thrust Ball Bearing 5 Intended for exclusively axial loads.
Single-Row Deep Groove Ball Bearing 6 Typical ball bearing. Handles light axial loads as well as radial loads.
Single-Row Angular Contact Bearing 7 For axial (one direction only!) as well as radial loads.
Felt Seal To assure that the entire inside edge of the seal touches the inner ring, the inner ring is enlarged. If a bearing of more normal proportions is required, the outer ring is also enlarged, and the bearing is referred to as a "wide cup" bearing. Tapered Roller Bearing 32 This is the kind of wheel bearings used in cars. The rollers are not cylindrical, but conical. They handle large raidal and axial loads. Inch (Non-Metric) Bearing Cylindrical Roller Bearing Instead of balls, cylindrical rollers are used. These bearings can handle much more radial load, but can handle much less axial load, than ball bearings. Varies
8
R
N
Double-Row Roller Bearing NN Handles greater radial loads than standard cylindrical roller bearings.
Needle Roller Bearing NA Needle bearings are basically roller bearings, but the rollers are much smaller, making the bearing more
References: E-mail me at bill@gizmology.net if you find a mistake! Dynaroll Technical Info. Basic Bearing Info from Motion Bearings. The Bearing Reference Center by Machine Design. SKF Online Bearing Calculator Formulation of Bearing Numbers from NSK Automotive, Australia. Bearing ABC 's from NSK Automotive, Australia. Back © 2003 W. E. Johns