Bearing Calculator

Rolling element bearings generate a number of defect frequencies

based on the geometry of the bearing. Many PdM programs have
large databases of the frequencies generated by many bearings.
This simple program can be used to quickly calculate these
frequencies when the bearing information is known.

The following parameters are required:

Number of Rolling Elements: This is the number of balls or

rollers in a bearing. In the case of a dual-row bearing, this is the
number of balls or rollers in one row.

Pitch Diameter: This is the diameter of the ball or roller path. If

unknown, it can be estimated from the bearing bore and outer
diameter.

Bearing Bore: The inner diameter of the bearing. Needed only if

the pitch diameter is unknown.

Bearing Outer Diameter: The outer diameter of the bearing.

Needed only if the pitch diameter is unknown.

Ball/Roller Diameter: The diameter of the rolling elements.

Contact Angle: The contact angle between the balls/rollers and

the bearing races in degrees. This can range up to 30 degrees.
Enter 0 if unknown.

A Note About Dimensions: The dimensions may be entered in

inches, millimeters or other units as long as the same units are used
for all dimensions.

Speed: The rotation speed of the bearing.

A Note About The Frequency Calculations: The calculated bearing

tones will be in the same units as the speed.
Speed in RPM results in CPM (cycles per minute)
Speed in Hz results in Hz (cycles per second)
Speed = 1 results in orders of rotation speed.
Bearing Calculator
The bearing frequencies calculated are:

Fundamental Train Frequency (FTF): This is the rate that the

bearing cage and balls/rollers as a group rotate around the shaft.
This calculation is based on a fixed outer race and a rotating inner
race.

Outer Race Frequency: A defect in the outer race will generate a

peak at this frequency as the balls/rollers pass over it.

Inner Race Frequency: A defect in the inner race will generate a

peak at this frequency as the balls/rollers pass over it.

Ball Defect Frequency: A defect on a ball or roller will generate a

peak at this frequency as the defect contacts the inner and outer
race during each rotation. This is twice the Ball Spin frequency - the
rotation rate of a ball or roller.

A Note About Bearing Defect Frequencies: The calculated

frequencies may vary by 5% because the contact angle and
calculated pitch diameter are slightly different than expected.
Initially, a bearing defect may show up as a single tone but as the
damage progresses, additional tones and rotation-rate sidebands on
calculated tones may develop. In the final stages of bearing
destruction, the calculated tones may disappear, replaced by
broadband noise. This is an indication that failure is imminent as the
balls/rollers are no longer turning.
Contact Angle

Outer Diameter

Bore Pitch Diameter

Spintelligent Labs