BEARINGS

General Types of Bearings and How They Work

Generally speaking, a bearing is a device that is used to enable rotational or
linear movement, while reducing friction and handling stress. Resembling
wheels, bearings literally enable devices to roll, which reduces the friction
between the surface of the bearing and the surface its rolling over. Its
significantly easier to move, both in a rotary or linear fashion, when friction is
reducedthis also enhances speed and efficiency.
How Bearings

Work

In order to serve all these functions, bearings make use of a relatively simple
structure: a ball with internal and external smooth metal surfaces, to aid in
rolling. The ball itself carries the weight of the loadthe force of the loads
weight is what drives the bearings rotation. However, not all loads put force
on a bearing in the same manner. There are two different kinds of loading:
radial and thrust.
A radial load, as in a pulley, simply puts weight on the bearing in a manner
that causes the bearing to roll or rotate as a result of tension. A thrust load is
significantly different, and puts stress on the bearing in an entirely different
way. If a bearing (think of a tire) is flipped on its side (think now of a tire
swing) and subject to complete force at that angle (think of three children
sitting on the tire swing), this is called thrust load. A bearing that is used to
support a bar stool is an example of a bearing that is subject only to thrust
load.
Many bearings are prone to experiencing both radial and thrust loads. Car
tires, for example, carry a radial load when driving in a straight line: the tires
roll forward in a rotational manner as a result of tension and the weight they
are supporting. However, when a car goes around a corner, it is subject to
thrust load because the tires are no longer moving solely in a radial fashion
and cornering force weighs on the side of the bearing.
Types of Bearings
There are numerous different kinds of bearings that are designed to handle
radial load, thrust load, or some combination of the two. Because different
applications require bearings that are designed to handle a specific kind of
load and different amounts of weight, the differences between types of
bearings concern load type and ability to handle weight.
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Ball Bearings

Ball bearings are extremely common because they can handle both radial and
thrust loads, but can only handle a small amount of weight. They are found in
a wide array of applications, such as roller blades and even hard drives, but
are prone to deforming if they are overloaded.

Roller Bearings

Roller bearings are designed to carry heavy loadsthe primary roller is a

cylinder, which means the load is distributed over a larger area, enabling the
bearing to handle larger amounts of weight. This structure, however, means
the bearing can handle primarily radial loads, but is not suited to thrust loads.
For applications where space is an issue, a needle bearing can be used. Needle
bearings work with small diameter cylinders, so they are easier to fit in smaller
applications.

Ball Thrust Bearings

These kinds of bearings are designed to handle almost exclusively thrust loads
in low-speed low-weight applications. Bar stools, for example, make use of ball
thrust bearings to support the seat.

Roller Thrust Bearings

Roller thrust bearings, much like ball thrust bearings, handle thrust loads. The
difference, however, lies in the amount of weight the bearing can handle:
roller thrust bearings can support significantly larger amounts of thrust load,
and are therefore found in car transmissions, where they are used to support
helical gears. Gear support in general is a common application for roller thrust
bearings.

Tapered Roller Bearings

This style of bearing is designed to handle large radial and thrust loadsas a
result of their load versatility, they are found in car hubs due to the extreme
amount of both radial and thrust loads that car wheels are expected to carry.

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Specialized Bearings

There are, of course, several kinds of bearings that are manufactured for
specific applications, such as magnetic bearings and giant roller
bearings.Magnetic bearings are found in high-speed devices because it has
no moving partsthis stability enables it to support devices that move
unconscionably fast. Giant roller bearings are used to move extremely large
and heavy loads, such as buildings and large structural components.

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Bearing Numbers Explained

(1) Prefix :

(2) Basic Number:

(3) Suffix

Prefix

Cage with roller elements

Removable bearing ring

Ring with roller set

Roll body of stainless steel

Stainless steel deep groove ball bearing

*Note: Each bearing company may create their own prefixes. e.g. E2. =
SKF Energy Efficient bearings
Suffix

2 RS

Bearing with rubber seal on both sides. RS provides a better seal but
more rolling friction than 2Z.

RS

Bearing with rubber seal on one side, one side open.

2 Z / ZZ

Bearing with a metal seal on both sides.

Bearing with a metal seal on one side, one side open.

Reinforced Design

P2

Highest precision

Bearing with taper bore

Bearing Numbers

The example at the header shows a 6001 2RS bearing. So what does the

BEARINGS
6001 actually mean?
Lets attempt to break it down.
(6)001
This first number relates to the bearing type, as shown in the table below
type 6 is a deep grooved roller bearing.

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.

2 Barrel and Spherical Roller Bearings

Tapered Roller Bearing

Designed to take large axial loads as well as radial

loads.

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Deep Groove Double-Row Ball Bearing

4
Designed for heavy radial loads.

Axial Deep Groove Ball Bearing

5
Intended for exclusively axial loads.

Deep Groove Ball Bearing (Single row)

Typical ball bearing. Handles light axial loads as

well as radial loads.

Single-Row Angular Contact Bearing

7 Specific geometry of angular contact bearing

raceways and shoulders creates ball contact
angles that support higher axial loads

8
Axial Cylindrical Roller Bearings
Axial cylindrical roller bearings comprise axial
cylindrical roller and cage assemblies and shaft
and housing locating washers.
The bearings have particularly small axial section
height, have high load carrying capacity and high
rigidity and can support axial forces in one

BEARINGS

direction.

6(0)01
This second number relates the bearing series, which reflects the robustness
of the bearing. As you go up the scale below from 9 to 4 the inner and outer
race thickness will usually increase along with the ball size, this will be to
help cope with extra load.
9 Very thin section
0 Extra light
1 Extra light thrust
2 Light
3 Medium
4 Heavy
60(01)
The 3rd and 4th digits of the bearing number relate to the bore size of the
bearing, numbers 00 to 03 have a designated bore size depending on the
number.
00 10mm
01 12mm
02 15mm
03 17mm
While numbers over 03 simply have a bore size which is 5 times that of the
3rd and 4th digit.