Ball or roller-type rolling element anti-friction bearings offer a mechanical method of balancing both axial and radial forces in rotational and reciprocating shafts. The two types will be briefly discussed in this article, followed by examples of when one type might be chosen. Read the finest by bearings buying online guide to find out more about the various bearing types.

Ball Bearings


A basic ball bearing includes inner and outer wire harnesses, several spherical components divided by a carrier, and frequently shields and/or seals intended to keep oil and dirt out and out. When installed, the outer race is frequently kept in a housing while the inner race is lightly forced onto a shaft. Pure radial loads, ultimate axial (push) loads, and combination radial and axial loads can all be handled by certain designs.

Juncture contact is the term used to describe how each ball interacts with the race in a theoretically very small patch known as a point in ball bearings. The unloaded ball bounces back to its original shape because bearings are made to ensure that the little deformation the ball experiences as it enters and exits the load zone does not go beyond the material's yield point. The lifespan of ball bearings are finite. They eventually stop working due to wear and tear, spalling, or a variety of other factors. They have a defined number of predicted revolutions before failure and are built with a useful life based on statistics.

Single-row radial bearings are available from manufacturers in four series and a variety of standard bore sizes.

Bearing life is significantly influenced by shaft and bearing alignment. Self-aligning bearings are employed because they have a higher misalignment capacity.

The bearing carrier is removed to increase radial load capacity, and as many balls as will fit are placed in the gap between the races—this is known as a full complement bearing. Because of the rubbing between adjacent rolling parts, wear on these bearings is greater than on bearings that use carriers.

Machine tool spindles, for example, are essential applications wherein shaft runout is a concern. In these cases, bearings may be preload to fill in any gaps in the bearing assembly's already tight tolerance.

Roller Bearings


Roller bearings are made similarly to ball bearings, however they feature line connection rather than point contact, which increases their capacity and shock resistance. There are various different types of rollers, including cylindrical, spherical, tapered, and needle-shaped ones. Only little thrust loads may be handled by cylindrical roller bearings. When doubled up, spherical roller bearings have the capacity to handle greater thrust as well as misalignment. Considerable thrust loads can be handled by tapered roller bearings. Needle bearings, a type of cylindrical roller bearing, can be produced as needle roller thrusting bearings and have a high radial load capacity for their size.

Ball or Roller Bearing Selection

Ball bearings are often utilized at higher speeds and lighter weights compared to roller bearings. Under shock and impact loading, roller bearings perform better.

Often offered as assemblies, ball bearings can be easily changed out as needed. The roller carrier, rollers, or outer or inner races of a roller bearing can frequently be dismantled and changed separately. Such setups are used for the front wheels of rear-wheel-drive vehicles. The benefit of this design is that permanent assemblies may be made by shrinking the races to fit within housings and onto shafts without endangering the rollers.

Ball bearings with a single row are standardized and interchangeable between manufacturers. Because roller bearings lack established standards, a specifier must go to a manufacturer's catalogue to choose the right one.

A specific quantity of internal clearance is used while manufacturing rolling-element bearings. Any inaccuracy that only shifts a ball slightly out of place and eliminates this internal clearance shouldn't have a significant impact on the bearing's lifespan. Angular misalignment is more noticeable in roller bearings. As an illustration, a ball bearing operating at a modest speed and with a reasonably loose fit may function properly with an angular misalignment of up to 0.002 to 0.004 inches per inch between the bearings and shaft. In contrast, a cylindrical roller bearing may experience problems if the misalignment is greater than 0.001 in./in. The majority of the time, manufacturers will provide the allowable limits of angular misalignment for each