What Are The Different Types Of Ball Bearings, And What Are Their Applications?

Rolling-element bearings are used to ensure smooth, efficient operation in many machines with rotary motion—from car wheels, engines and turbines to medical equipment. A ball bearing is a type of rolling-element bearing that serves three main functions while it facilitates motion: it carries loads, reduces friction and positions moving machine parts.

Ball bearings use balls to separate two “races,” or bearing rings, to reduce surface contact and friction across moving planes. The rotation of the balls causes a reduced coefficient of friction when compared with flat surfaces rubbing against each other. Because there is little surface contact between the balls and races, ball bearings typically have a lower load capacity for their size than other rolling-element bearings.

There are a variety of different designs and applications for ball bearings, and their design is specific to their industrial application and load type. Some common designs of ball bearings include:

• Angular Contact Bearings: designed to work under combined radial and axial loads.

• Axial Bearings: also called thrust ball bearings, these are designed to work under force applied parallel to the bearing’s axis, or thrust loads.

• Deep-Groove Bearings: designed to carry both radial and light axial loads.

• Linear Bearings: designed to allow movement in one direction along a linear axis.

• Self-aligning Ball Bearings: bearings with two sets of balls that are self-aligning and to carry both radial and light axial loads.

• High-Speed Angular Contact Bearings: another type of precision ball bearing is a high-speed angular contact bearing. As the name implies, high-speed bearings are designed to handle high RPMs with precision and accuracy.

Ball bearing sizes vary according to their use. The width of the bearing also depends on the application. For example, thin section bearings are used in situations where space is at a premium. The difference between the diameter of the outside and inside races and width is minimized, allowing for compact designs.

The materials used in ball bearings depend on their application. The vast majority of ball bearings are made from steel. Other material types include stainless steel bearings for improved corrosion resistance and hybrid ball bearings for which ceramic balls are the moving parts of the bearing between the inner and outer races to reach high rotational speeds.

What's the Difference Between Bearings?

Bearings are used to help reduce friction. Metal-upon-metal contact produces large amounts of friction. The friction adds to wear and tear of the metal, producing grinding that slowly degrades the metal. Bearings reduce friction by having the two surfaces roll over each other, reducing the amount of friction produced. They consist of a smooth metal ball or roller that rolls against a smooth inner and outer metal surface. The rollers or balls take the load, allowing the device to spin.

The load acted upon a bearing is either a radial or thrust load. Depending on the location of the bearing in the mechanism, it can see all of a radial or thrust load or a combination of both. For example, the bearing in the wheel of your car supports a radial and a thrust load. The weight of the car on the bearing produces a radial load while the thrust load is produced as the car turns a corner. Here we will examine some types of common bearings.

Ball Bearings

Ball bearings are most common type of bearing and can handle both radial and thrust loads. Ball bearings are also known as deep-groove single-row or Conrad bearings. The inner ring is typically fastened to the rotating shaft and the groove on the outer diameter provides a circular ball raceway. The outer ring is mounted onto the bearing housing. The ball bearings are housed in a race and when the load is applied, it is transmitted from the outer race to the ball and from the ball to the inner race. The raceway grooves have typical curvature radii of 51.5% to 53% of the ball diameter. Smaller curvature raceways can cause high rolling friction due to the tight conformity of the balls and raceways. Higher curvature raceways can shorten fatigue life from increased stress in the smaller ball-race contract area.

Ball bearings, also known as Conrad bearings, are typically used in small load applications.

The contact points between the ball and the outer race is very small due to the spherical shape of the bearing. This also helps the ball spin very smoothly. Since the contact point is so small, the bearing can become overloaded at a specific point causing the ball bearing to become deformed. This will ruin the bearing. Ball bearings are typically used in applications where the load is relatively small.

The table above lists some general types of ball bearings and their typical load capabilities.

Things to Remember When Installing Pillow Block Bearings

When the time comes to replace your pillow block bearings, you should hopefully have an idea of how to go about it correctly. However, there are some important installation factors you should be aware of. And that doesn't just include getting the right bearing for replacement, though that is very important as well. Here's a quick list of ideas and reminders for you to think about:

1. Should I also replace the housing when changing the pillow block bearing? It is recommended that you change out the entire unit. Since the bearing usually makes up 80% or more of the cost of the unit, and the housing is machined to compliment and fit the bearing, it makes sense to replace both. If you don't, you'll likely end up with a loose bearing, or the bearing housing will wear out quickly, and you'll end up replacing both anyways.

2. Can I use a soft faced hammer to replace or install a bearing? While this would make a much better choice than a steel hammer would, it isn't as good an option as a driver set or an arbor press. Be mindful to not press on the rolling parts or inner ring, as this could bend the raceway, causing noise and rubbing as well as a significantly shorter lifespan for your bearing unit.

3. How do I know if the bearing I'm using is the right one? For starters, compare it to the old bearing. This won't guarantee that it's correct however, especially if the wrong bearing was used during a previous replacement. Make use of any illustrations, or a parts guide to better identify the bearing. Also, if you aren't getting the longevity that you should expect from your bearing, check out the worn bearing for potential clues. Additionally, use a replacement that meets or exceeds the correct load, speed, and environmental qualifications.

4. Can greasing a bearing cause damage to the seals? Yes, but this can be avoided. Find out how much psi your grease gun puts out, and how much pressure the seals can withstand. Knowing these two factors should help you avoid any damage to your seals, or excessive greasing.

5. How do I grease the difficult areas? Many manufacturers offer a portable lubing device, which will control the amount of lube used and reduce or eliminate the need to lubricate manually. Some devices also include nylon tubing with adaptable fittings for greater reach.

If you're looking for more quality and better prices for your replacement parts, check out this vast selection of pillow block bearings and find what you need.

What are the characteristics of joint bearing?

Joint bearing is generally used for low-speed swing motion (that is, angular motion). Since the sliding surface is spherical, it can also be tilted within a certain angle range (that is, self-aligning motion), and the support shaft and the shaft shell hole are not concentric When the degree is large, it can still work normally.

Features of joint bearingThe joint bearing can bear larger loads. According to its different types and structures, it can bear radial load, axial load or combined load of radial and axial.Since the outer spherical surface of the inner ring is embedded with composite material, the bearing can generate self-lubrication during operation. Generally used for low-speed swing movement and low-speed rotation, it can also be used for tilting movement within a certain angle range, and it can still work normally when the support shaft and the shaft shell hole are not centered. Self-lubricating joint bearing is used in water conservancy, professional machinery and other industries.

Application of joint bearingSelf-lubricating joint bearingJoint bearings are widely used in engineering hydraulic cylinders, forging machine tools, engineering machinery, automation equipment, automotive shock absorbers, water conservancy machinery and other industries.The joint bearing is a spherical sliding bearing. The basic type is composed of an inner and outer ring with a spherical sliding spherical contact surface.Depending on its structure and type, it can withstand radial loads, axial loads, or combined loads acting simultaneously in the radial and axial directions.

What are Deep Groove Ball Bearings?

Deep groove ball bearings are similar to traditional bearings but have raceways that closely fit the dimensions of the balls that run in them. These deep grooves result in balls that are more stable and can handle higher loads than shallow-groove bearings. They still provide low friction, and the deep groove also limits vibration and noise while also providing the ability for some axial load capacity.

If you’ve ever seen any type of ball bearing, chances are you were looking at a deep groove ball bearing. These bearings are some of the most common due to their versatility, availability, and low friction. They’re ideal for high rotational speeds and offer several advantages over other ball bearing types.

These bearings come in a massive array of designs, sizes, and load-bearing capacities, making them ideal for home or industrial use. Also, it’s straightforward to replace traditional bearings with deep groove ball bearings, which can improve the longevity and efficiency of the machine.