There are many different types of bearings available today with very little information on the differences between them. Maybe you&#;ve asked yourself &#;which bearing will be best for your application?&#; Or &#;how do I choose a bearing?&#; This bearing selection guide will help you answer those questions.
First off, you need to know that most bearings with a rolling element fall into two broad groups:
Within these groups, there are sub-categories of bearings that have unique features or optimized designs to enhance performance.
In this bearing selection guide, we&#;ll cover the four things you need to know about your application in order to choose the right type of bearing.
Bearing loads are generally defined as the reaction force a component places on a bearing when in use.
When choosing the right bearing for your application, first you should find the bearing&#;s load capacity. The load capacity is the amount of load a bearing can handle and is one of the most important factors when choosing a bearing.
Bearing loads can either be axial (thrust), radial or a combination.
An axial (or thrust) bearing load is when force is parallel to the axis of the shaft.
A radial bearing load is when force is perpendicular to the shaft. Then a combination bearing load is when parallel and perpendicular forces produce an angular force relative to the shaft.
To learn more about axial and radial ball bearings, contact our team of engineers!
Ball bearings are designed with spherical balls and can distribute loads over a medium-sized surface area. They tend to work better for small-to-medium-sized loads, spreading loads via a single point of contact.
Below is a quick reference for the type of bearing load and the best ball bearing for the job:
Roller bearings are designed with cylindrical rollers that can distribute loads over a larger surface area than ball bearings. They tend to work better for heavy load applications.
Below is a quick reference for the type of bearing load and the best roller bearing for the job:
Do you know when thrust ball bearings are used? The thrust bearing is utilized if you are working on a mechanical project. By lowering friction, ball thrust bearings are designed to increase your mechanical efficiency. Thrust ball bearings are often used in various industrial applications to increase efficiency. A correct bearing installation is necessary to get the most out of your equipment.
Applying the inadequate bearing can decrease efficiency, increase maintenance requirements, and, worst cases, make it more expensive to remedy equipment failure. The truth is that having a choice of bearing types won&#;t make your decision-making process any easier. It can take time to choose the best industrial bearings.
A thrust bearing is a particular kind of rotary bearing designed to support axial loads and lower friction. The thrust bearings are intended to enable and aid rotation around a fixed shaft or axis, and while a machine is in motion, its rotating components move along them. Transferring thrust loads placed on the shaft and limiting axial shaft drift are two primary purposes of thrust bearings.
Thrust bearings are typically positioned against a high thrust collar around a shaft. The thrust collar transfers the shaft&#;s axial load to the bearing. Thrust collars are usually used in pairs, one on each side of the thrust collar.
Although several types of thrust bearings are available to meet the requirements of various applications, they typically consist of two washers or raceways in addition to the rolling elements. They have small metal balls all around the outside to help the rotating sections of a machine.
The amount of thrust this bearing can support is determined by the angle formed between the bearing axis and the line of contact between the raceway and the tapered roller. The bearing is better suited for axial loads if this angle is larger than 45 degrees.
Another feature of heavy-duty tapered roller thrust bearings is a second row of opposing tapered rollers. This kind of &#;screw-down&#; bearing prevents minor to moderate angular misalignment by changing the curvature of a raceway.
skf are exported all over the world and different industries with quality first. Our belief is to provide our customers with more and better high value-added products. Let's create a better future together.
Cylindrical Roller Thrust Bearing:Radial patterns of cylindrical rollers are arranged around the bearing axis. To lessen stress, these rollers need to be crowned or end-relieved. They are available in double-row forms and may be deployed in relatively little axial space. They should not be used for radial loads.
Spherical Roller Thrust:The raceways closely mimic the cone-and-cup configuration of typically tapered roller bearings, while the rolling elements are fashioned like barrels. This allows the bearing to self-align, which is advantageous in applications where shaft deflection or shock loads may happen.
Thrust Ball Bearings:Thrust ball bearings cannot transmit radial loading. This type is prone to misalignment, so producers often add a sphered groove to the housing washer to lessen the likelihood. Although they operate well in high-speed applications, they struggle under enormous loads.
Needle Roller Thrust Bearing:Thrust bearings with needle rollers are prized for their low height and many rolling elements. Consequently, their rolling elements sometimes directly contact the rotating parts without a shaft washer or housing washer. Radial loads are zero, but shocks and axial loads are extremely high.
Most thrust bearings employ balls to sustain the machinery they are utilized with. These are referred to as &#;thrust ball bearings&#; and have a band of several little metal balls all around them. The image up above shows an illustration of a thrust ball bearing. These thrust ball bearings are employed when a machine&#;s moving parts apply an axial load. They can help rotate a machine&#;s moving parts with the arrangement of their balls.
Thrust bearings are used in many applications and sectors, including centrifuges and medical devices. Other typical applications comprise:
Automotive
Transportation
Generators and Water Turbines
Heavy-Duty Machineries
Industrial Machinery
Mining & Construction
Thrust ball bearings are crucial in various applications due to their advantages. Their advantages consist of the following:
Highly reliable
High load capacity
Withstand harsh environment
Easy mounting and dismounting
High availability
Function smoothly at high speed
Thrust bearings come in a variety of sizes. The size you select must be appropriate for the application you plan to use it for. You might only be able to use a thrust bearing if it is large enough for a machine&#;s moving parts. The good news is that you can get thrust bearings in standard and metric sizes.
The ball&#;s material is another factor to consider while selecting thrust bearings. Cheap-ball thrust bearings have the propensity to degrade quickly. Reduced performance could occur if the balls lose their crisp, smooth feel over time. Some of them contain stainless steel balls, while others have glass balls. Stainless steel and glass are two premium ball materials that last very long.
ConclusionIf you choose to purchase a thrust ball bearing, NBC Bearings will provide you with the highest accuracy and speed of the bearing. The few factors you should consider when choosing the best thrust ball bearing are those mentioned above.
Want more information on Thrust Roller Bearings? Feel free to contact us.