Principles of bearing selection and application

A bearing arrangement does not only consist of rolling bearings but includes the components associated with the bearings such as the shaft and housing. The lubricant is also a very important component of the bearing arrangement because it has to prevent wear and protect against corrosion so that the bearing can deploy its full performance. Beside these, the seal is also a very important component, the performance of which is of vital importance to the cleanliness of the lubricant. Cleanliness has a profound effect on bearing service life - which is why lubricants and seals have become part of the SKF business. To design a rolling bearing arrangement it is necessary to select a suitable bearing type to determine a suitable bearing size, but this is not all. Several other aspects have to be considered, such as a suitable form and design of other components of the arrangement appropriate fits and bearing internal clearance or preload holding devices adequate seals the type and quantity of lubricant installation and removal methods, etc. Each individual decision affects the performance, reliability and economy of the bearing arrangement. The amount of work entailed depends on whether experience is already available about similar arrangements. When experience is lacking, when extraordinary demands are made or, when the costs of the bearing arrangement and any subsequent outline have to be given special consideration, then much more work is needed including, for example, more accurate calculations and/or testing.

In the following sections of this general technical introduction, the designer of a bearing arrangement can find the necessary basic information presented in the order in which it is generally required. Obviously it is impossible to include all the information needed to cover every conceivable bearing application. For this reason, in many places, reference is made to the comprehensive SKF application engineering service, which includes technical support about the selection of the right bearing as well as calculations of the complete bearing arrangement. The higher the technical demands placed on a bearing arrangement and the more limited the available experience of using bearings for particular applications, the more advisable it is to make use of this service. The information contained in the general technical section usually applies to rolling bearings generally, or at least to a group of bearings. Special information specific to one bearing type only can be found in the text preceding the appropriate individual table section. It should be noted that the values provided in the product tables for load and speed ratings as well as for the fatigue load limit are heavily rounded.

Bearing terminology
To better understand frequently used bearing terms, definitions are provided below and explained with the help of drawings. A detailed collection of bearing specific terms and definitions can be found in ISO 5593:1997: Rolling bearings - Vocabulary.

Bearing arrangement ( 1 Cylindrical roller bearing 2 Four-point contact ball bearing 3 Housing 4 Shaft 5 Shaft abutment shoulder 6 Shaft diameter 7 Locking plate 8 Radial shaft seal 9 Distance ring 10 Housing bore diameter 11 Housing bore 12 Housing cover 13 Snap ring

fig)

Following terminology is used for the different parts of a rolling bearing.

Radial bearings(

fig /

fig)

1 2 3 4 5

Inner ring Outer ring Rolling element: ball, cylindrical roller, needle roller, tapered roller, spherical roller Cage Capping device Seal made of elastomer, contact (shown in figure) or non-contact Shield made of sheet steel, non-contact 6 Outer ring outside diameter 7 Inner ring bore 8 Inner ring shoulder diameter 9 Outer ring shoulder diameter 10 Snap ring groove 11 Snap ring 12 Outer ring side face 13 Seal anchorage groove 14 Outer ring raceway 15 Inner ring raceway 16 Sealing groove 17 Inner ring side face 18 Chamfer 19 Mean bearing diameter 20 Total bearing width 21 Guiding flange 22 Retaining flange 23 Contact angle

Thrust bearings

fig) 24 Shaft washer 25 Rolling element and cage assembly 26 Housing washer 27 Housing washer with sphered seat surface 28 Sphered seat washer

Vocabulary - Thrust bearings

Vocabulary - Radial bearings

Vocabulary - Radial bearings

Deep groove ball bearings

open basic design ( with shields

fig)

with contact seals ( fig) with a snap ring groove, with or without a snap ring single row with a fixed section open basic design

( fig) with contact seals

double row (

fig)

Y-bearings with grub screws

inner ring extended on one side (

fig)

inner ring extended on both sides ( with an eccentric locking collar

fig)

inner ring extended on one side (

fig)

inner ring extended on both sides (

fig)

with a tapered bore ( inner ring extended on both sides for adapter sleeve mounting

fig)

with a standard inner ring ( for locating by interference fit on the shaft

fig)

with a hexagonal or square bore (

fig)

Angular contact ball bearings single row single bearings (

fig) single bearings for universal matching single row high- and super-precision single bearings (

fig) single bearings for universal matching single, universally matchable bearings matched bearing sets double row with a one-piece inner ring open basic design (

fig) with shields with contact seals with a two-piece inner ring

Four-point contact ball bearings (

fig)

Self-aligning ball bearings with a cylindrical or tapered bore open basic design (

fig) with contact seals (

fig)

with an extended inner ring (

fig)

Cylindrical roller bearings single row NU, N, NJ, NUP designs (

fig) angle ring

for NU and NJ design bearings double row with a cylindrical or tapered bore NNU design (

fig) NN design (

fig) NNUP design four-row with a cylindrical (

fig) or tapered bore open design with contact seals

Full complement cylindrical roller bearings single row NCF design (

fig) NJG design double row with integral flanges on the inner ring (

fig) with integral flanges on the inner and outer rings with contact seals (

fig)

Needle roller bearings Needle roller and cage assemblies single row (

fig) double row (

fig) Drawn cup needle roller bearings, open ends single and double row open basic design (

fig) with contact seals (

fig) Drawn cup needle roller bearings, closed end single and double row open basic design (

fig) with a contact seal (

fig) Needle roller bearings with flanges single and double row without an inner ring (

fig) with an inner ring (

fig) open basic design with contact seals

Needle roller bearings without flanges single and double row with an inner ring (

fig) without an inner ring (

fig) Alignment needle roller bearings without an inner ring with an inner ring (

fig) Combined needle roller bearings

Needle roller/angular contact ball bearings single direction (

fig) double direction (

fig) Needle roller/thrust ball bearings with a full complement thrust ball bearing (

fig) with a cage-guided ball

set ( fig) with or without a cover Needle roller/cylindrical roller thrust bearing without a cover (

fig) with a cover (

fig)

Tapered roller bearings

single row ( single bearing matched bearing sets faceto-face backto-back tandem double row TDO configuration (back-to-back) (

fig)

fig) TDI configuration (face-to-face) (

fig) four-row TQO configuration (

fig) TQI configuration

Spherical roller bearings with a cylindrical or tapered bore open basic designs (

fig) with contact

seals (

fig)

CARB toroidal bearings with a cylindrical or tapered bore open basic designs with a cageguided roller set (

fig) with a full complement roller set with contact seals (

fig)

Thrust bearings

Thrust ball bearings single direction

with a flat housing washer ( with a sphered housing washer

fig)

with ( double direction

fig) or without a seat washer

with flat housing washers ( with sphered housing washers

fig)

with (

fig) or without seat washers

Angular contact thrust ball bearings

single direction (

fig)

double direction ( high-precision bearings single direction basic design for single mounting (

fig)

fig) design for universal matching matched bearing sets (

fig) double direction

basic design (

fig)

high-speed design ( Cylindrical roller thrust bearings single direction

fig)

single row (

fig) double row components cylindrical roller and cage thrust assemblies shaft and housing washers

Needle roller thrust bearings single direction needle roller and cage thrust assemblies (

fig) raceway washers thrust washers

Tapered roller thrust bearings single direction

with or without (

fig) a cover

screw down bearings (

fig)

double direction (

fig)

Spherical roller thrust bearings

single direction (

fig)

Track runner bearings

Cam rollers

narrow design, single row ball bearing cam roller (

fig)

wide design, double row ball bearing cam roller (

fig)

Support rollers without an axial guidance with or without contact seals without an inner ring with an inner ring (

fig) with an axial guidance by thrust washers with or without contact seals with a cageguided needle roller set (

fig) with a full complement needle roller set with an axial guidance by cylindrical rollers with labyrinth seals (

fig) with contact seals (

fig) with lamellar seals

Cam followers with an axial guidance by thrust plate

with or without contact seals with a concentric seat (

fig) with an eccentric seat collar with a cage-guided needle roller set (

fig) with a full complement needle roller set with an axial guidance by cylindrical rollers with labyrinth seals (

fig) with contact seals with concentric seat (

fig) with eccentric seat collar

Selection of bearing type Each bearing type displays characteristic properties, based on its design, which makes it more, or less, appropriate for a given application. For example, deep groove ball bearings can accommodate moderate radial loads as well as axial loads. They have low friction and can be produced with high precision and in quiet running variants. Therefore they are preferred for small and medium-sized electric motors. Spherical and toroidal roller bearings can carry very heavy loads and are self-aligning. These properties make them popular for example for heavy engineering applications, where there are heavy loads, shaft deflections and misalignments. In many cases, however, several factors have to be considered and weighted against each other when selecting a bearing type, so that no general rules can be given. The information provided here should serve to indicate which are the most important factors to be considered when selecting a standard bearing type and thus facilitate an appropriate choice available space loads misalignment precision speed quiet running stiffness axial displacement mounting and dismounting

 integral seals. A comprehensive overview of the standard bearing types, their design characteristics and their suitability for the demands placed on a given application can be found in the

matrix. Detailed information on the individual bearing types, including their characteristics and the available designs, can be found in the sections dealing with individual bearing types. Bearing types that are not included in the matrix are generally only used for a few well-defined applications. The matrix permits only a relatively superficial classification of bearing types. The limited number of symbols does not allow an exact differentiation and some properties do not depend solely on bearing design. For example, the stiffness of an arrangement incorporating angular

contact ball bearings or tapered roller bearings also depends on the applied preload and the operating speed which is influenced by the precision of the bearing and its associated components as well as by the cage design. In spite of its limitations, the

matrix should enable an appropriate choice of bearing type to be made. It should also be considered that the total cost of a bearing arrangement and inventory considerations could also influence the final choice. Other important criteria to be observed when designing a bearing arrangement including load carrying capacity and life, friction, permissible speeds, bearing internal clearance or preload, lubrication and sealing are dealt with in depth in separate sections of this catalogue. With help of the program "Design/performance search", bearing designs can quickly be found and the performances of different bearing types can be compared.

Available space In many cases, one of the principal dimensions of a bearing - the bore diameter - is predetermined by the machine's design and the shaft diameter For small-diameter shafts all types of ball bearings can be used, the most popular being deep

groove ball bearings; needle roller bearings are also suitable ( fig). For largediameter shafts, cylindrical, tapered, spherical and toroidal roller bearings are available, as well

as deep groove ball bearings (

fig).

When radial space is limited, bearings with a small cross section, particularly those with a low cross-sectional height, should be chosen, i.e. bearings in the 8 or 9 Diameter Series (see under "Dimensions" in the "Bearing data - general" section). Needle roller and cage assemblies, drawn cup needle roller bearings and needle roller bearings without or even with an inner ring (

fig), are very appropriate as well as certain series of deep groove and angular contact ball bearings, cylindrical, tapered, spherical and toroidal roller bearings.

When axial space is limited, certain series of cylindrical roller bearings and deep groove ball

bearings can be used for radial or combined loads respectively (

fig) as well

as the various types of combined needle roller bearings ( fig). For purely axial loads, needle roller and cage thrust assemblies (with or without washers) as well as thrust ball bearings and cylindrical roller thrust bearings can be used (

fig).

Loads Magnitude of load The magnitude of the load is one of the factors that usually determines the size of the bearing to be used. Generally, roller bearings are able to support heavier loads than similar sized ball

bearings ( fig) and bearings having a full complement of rolling elements can accommodate heavier loads than the corresponding caged bearings. Ball bearings are mostly

used where loads are light or moderate. For heavy loads and where shaft diameters are large, roller bearings are usually the more appropriate choice. Direction of load Radial load NU and N design cylindrical roller bearings, needle roller bearings and toroidal roller bearings

can only support pure radial loads ( fig). All other radial bearings can accommodate some axial loads in addition to radial loads; see "Combined load". Axial load

Thrust ball bearings and four-point contact ball bearings ( fig) are suitable for light or moderate loads that are purely axial. Single direction thrust ball bearings can only accommodate axial loads acting in one direction; for axial loads acting in both directions, double direction thrust ball bearings are needed. Angular contact thrust ball bearings can support moderate axial loads at high speeds; here the single direction bearings can also accommodate simultaneously acting radial loads, while double

direction bearings are normally used only for purely axial loads (

fig).

For moderate and heavy axial loads acting in one direction, needle roller thrust bearings, cylindrical and tapered roller thrust bearings are suitable, as are spherical roller thrust bearings (

fig). Spherical roller thrust bearings can also accommodate simultaneously acting radial loads. For heavy alternating axial loads, two cylindrical roller thrust bearings or two spherical roller thrust bearings can be mounted adjacent to each other. Combined load A combined load comprises a radial and an axial load acting simultaneously. The ability of a bearing to carry an axial load is determined by the angle of contact a - the greater the angle, the more suitable the bearing for axial loads. An indication of this is given by the calculation factor Y, which becomes smaller as the contact angle increases. The values of this factor for a bearing type or for individual bearings can be found in the introductory text of the product table sections, or in the actual product tables. The axial load carrying capacity of a deep groove ball bearing depends on its internal design and the internal clearance in the bearing, see the section "Single row deep groove ball bearings". For combined loads, single and double row angular contact ball bearings and single row tapered roller bearings are most commonly used, although deep groove ball bearings and spherical roller

bearings are suitable ( fig). In addition, self-aligning ball bearings and NJ and NUP design cylindrical roller bearings as well as NJ and NU design cylindrical roller bearings with HJ angle rings can be used for combined loads where the axial

component is relatively small (

fig).

Single row angular contact ball bearings, tapered roller bearings, NJ design cylindrical roller bearings and NU design cylindrical roller bearings + HJ angle ring and spherical roller thrust bearings can accommodate axial loads acting in one direction only. For axial loads of alternating direction these bearings must be combined with a second bearing. For this reason, single row angular contact ball bearings are available as bearings for universal matching and single row tapered roller bearings can be supplied as matched sets comprising two single row bearings, see

sections "Single row angular contact ball bearings" and "Paired single row tapered roller bearings". When the axial component of combined loads is large, it may be supported independently from the radial load by a separate bearing. In addition to thrust bearings, some radial bearings, e.g.

deep groove ball bearings or four-point contact ball bearings ( fig) are suitable for this task. To make sure that the bearing is only subjected to the axial load in such cases, the

bearing outer ring must be mounted with radial clearance (

fig).

Moment load When a load acts eccentrically on a bearing, a tilting moment will occur. Double row bearings, e.g. deep groove or angular contact ball bearings, can accommodate tilting moments, but paired single row angular contact ball bearings or tapered roller bearings arranged face-to-face, or better still back-to-back, are more suitable (

fig).

Misalignment Angular misalignments between the shaft and housing occur, for example, when the shaft bends (flexes) under the operating load, when the bearing seats in the housing are not machined to the same height or when shafts are supported by bearings in separate housings that are too far apart. Rigid bearings, i.e. deep groove ball bearings and cylindrical roller bearings cannot accommodate any misalignment, or can only accommodate very minor misalignments, unless by force. Self-aligning bearings, i.e. self-aligning ball bearings, spherical roller bearings, toroidal roller bearings and spherical roller thrust bearings (

fig), on the other hand, can accommodate misalignment produced under operating loads and can also compensate for initial misalignment resulting from machining or mounting errors. Values for the permissible misalignments are provided in the introductory text of the table section. If the expected misalignment exceeds the permissible values, please contact the SKF application engineering service. Demo self-aligning ball bearing Demo CARB bearing Demo spherical roller bearing Demo spherical roller thrust bearing

Thrust ball bearings with sphered housing washers and seat rings, Y-bearing units and alignment

needle roller bearings ( misalignment arising from machining or mounting errors. Demo thrust ball bearing Demo Y-bearing unit

fig) can compensate for initial

Precision Bearings with higher precision than Normal are required for arrangements that must have high running accuracy (e.g. machine tool spindle arrangements) as well as those applications where very high speeds are required. The introductory text to each table section contains information about the tolerance classes to which the bearings in that section are produced. SKF produces a comprehensive range of highprecision bearings, including single row angular contact ball bearings, single and double row cylindrical roller bearings and single and double direction angular contact thrust ball bearings, see the catalogue "High-/super-precision bearings".

Speed The permissible operating temperature limits the speed at which rolling bearings can be operated, see the section "Reference speeds". Bearing types with low friction and correspondingly low heat generation inside the bearing are therefore the most suitable for high-speed operation.

The highest speeds can be achieved with deep groove ball bearings (

fig) and self-aligning

ball bearings (

fig) when loads are purely radial and with angular contact ball bearings (

fig) for combined loads. This is particularly true of high-precision angular contact ball bearings or deep groove ball bearings with ceramic rolling elements. Because of their design, thrust bearings cannot accommodate as high speeds as radial bearings.

Quiet running

In certain applications, e.g. small electric motors for household appliances or office machinery, the noise produced in operation is an important factor and can influence the bearing choice. SKF

deep groove ball bearings are produced specifically for these applications (

fig).

Stiffness The stiffness of a rolling bearing is characterized by the magnitude of the elastic deformation (resilience) in the bearing under load. Generally, this deformation is very small and can be neglected. In some cases, however, e.g. spindle bearing arrangements for machine tools or pinion bearing arrangements, stiffness is important. Because of the contact conditions between the rolling elements and raceways, roller bearings e.g.

cylindrical ( fig) or tapered roller bearings ( fig), have a higher degree of stiffness than ball bearings. Bearing stiffness can be further enhanced by applying a preload, see the section "Bearing preload".

Axial displacement Shafts, or other rotating machine components, are generally supported by a locating and a nonlocating bearing, see section "Bearing arrangements". Locating bearings provide axial location for the machine component in both directions. The most suitable bearings for this are those that can accommodate combined loads, or can provide axial guidance in combination with a second bearing, see "

matrix". Non-locating bearings must permit shaft movement in the axial direction, so that the bearings are not overloaded when, for example, thermal expansion of the shaft occurs. The most suitable bearings for the non-locating position include needle roller bearings and NU and N design

cylindrical roller bearings ( fig). NJ design cylindrical roller bearings and some full complement design cylindrical roller bearings can also be used.

Demo needle roller bearing Demo NU Demo N In applications where the required axial displacement is relatively large and also the shaft may be

misaligned, a CARB toroidal roller bearing is the best choice as non-locating bearing ( fig). Demo CARB All of these bearings permit axial displacement of the shaft with respect to the housing within the bearing. Values for the permissible axial displacement within the bearing are provided in the relevant product tables. If non-separable bearings, e.g. deep groove ball bearings or spherical roller bearings (

fig) are used as non-locating bearings, one of the bearing rings must have a loose fit, see section "Radial location of bearings". Demo deep groove ball bearing Demo spherical roller bearing

Mounting and dismounting Cylindrical bore Bearings with a cylindrical bore are easier to mount and dismount if they are of separable design rather than non-separable, particularly if interference fits are required for both rings. Separable bearings are also preferable if frequent mounting and dismounting are required, because the ring with rolling element and cage assembly of these separable bearings can be fitted independently of the other ring. e.g. four-point contact ball bearings, cylindrical, needle and tapered roller

bearings ( well as ball and roller thrust bearings. Tapered bore

fig), as

Bearings with a tapered bore ( fig) can easily be mounted on a tapered journal or on a cylindrical shaft seat using an adapter or withdrawal sleeve (

fig).

Integral seals The selection of a seal is of vital importance to the proper performance of the bearing. SKF supplies bearings with integral

shields (

fig)

low-friction seals (

fig)

contact seals (

fig)

that can provide an economic and space-saving solution for many applications. A large number of sizes are available for deep groove ball bearings angular contact ball bearings self-aligning ball bearings cylindrical roller bearings needle roller bearings spherical roller bearings CARB toroidal roller bearings cam rollers Y-bearings and Y-bearing units.

All bearings with integral seals on both sides are filled with a grease of appropriate quality and quantity. See also section "Sealing arrangements".