Ball Bearings Types and Terms

  • Angular contact bearings are a type of radial bearing that are designed so that the contact angle between the races and the balls is created when the bearing is in use.
  • Automotive bearings describe many types of bearings used for automotive purposes.
  • ABEC Bearings are also sometimes called precision bearings; these bearings are rated on a scale from 1 to 9 based on precision standards.
  • Bearings are components that are used in between moving parts.
  • Ceramic ball bearings are made of steel rings and ceramic balls (instead of steel).
  • Counterbored ball bearings have one race shoulder turned and ground away to facilitate an assembly with a greater number of balls. Can also be a non-separable ball bearing with one side of the raceway removed from either or both rings to assist manufacturing assembly; normally the outer ring is counterbored.
  • Deep groove bearings are a type of radial bearing that have a cage assembly, which separates the balls and is used for radial and axial loads.
  • Linear bearings move objects that need only be moved in one direction and possibly back to an original position. (Linear Bearings)
  • Maximum capacity bearings allow for more balls to be loaded into the bearing using the filling notches.
  • Miniature bearings are a smaller bearing, typically under 10mm bores. A single row style of bearing capable of handling smaller torque loads.
  • Precision bearings are composed of materials that are subjected to severe stress reversals.
  • Radial ball bearings move in both directions and can handle large loads. The most widely used and recognizable ball bearing.
  • Roller bearings can handle higher load capacities than standard ball bearings. These consist of cylindrical rollers as the motion component of the bearing.
  • Self-Aligning bearings consist of two rows of balls and a spherical raceway in the outer ring. These bearings are known for limited problems with misalignment.
  • Skate bearings are used for inline skates and skateboards.  These utilize balls as the motion component for the bearing.
  • Steel ball bearings are made of steel materials.
  • Thrust bearings are designed to handle just thrust and minimum amounts of it, such as in the case of a Lazy Susan or Barstool.

Axis - Where the bearing is mounted; it is an imaginary line that runs through the center of the shaft.

Ball Cage - Device used to space the balls. The cage partly surrounds the balls and moves with them.
 
Ball Pocket - Container that holds the balls in place.  
 
Bore - The smallest dimension when referring to the separator, inner ring or outer ring of a ball bearing.
 
Bearing - A mechanical component that is intended to support two or more parts, which maneuver in differing directions.
 
Cone - Inner ring of tapered roller bearing. 
 
Contact Angle - Formed by a line drawn between the areas of ball and ring contact and a line perpendicular to the bearing axis. 
 
Dynamic Load - A load placed on a bearing that is in motion.
 
Fatigue - A breakdown of the bearing, when used constantly for loading purposes.
 
Fit - The amount of internal clearance in a bearing. This can also refer to shaft and housing size and how they relate to the bore or outside diameter. 
 
Floating Bearing - Bearing that is able to move in one or two directions.
 
Inner Ring - The innermost part of a bearing, which fits on a shaft and contains the external raceway for the rolling elements. Occasionally the shaft is immobile and the housing rotates. 
 
Lock Nut - A nut used in tandem with a lock washer to hold a bearing in place on a shaft. 
 
Lubricant - A usually oil based liquid, which provides cooling, reduces friction and resists contamination and corrosion for ball bearings and related components.  
 
Magnetic Bearing - Separates similar surfaces by use of a magnetic field.
 
Outer Ring - Portion of the bearing that contains the internal raceway for the balls.
 
Raceway - The ball or roller path cut in the inner and outer ring in which the balls or rollers move. Sometimes referred to as a guide path.
 
Seal - A soft synthetic rubber washer with a steel core fixed in the outer ring (in the seal groove) in contact with the inner ring to retain lubricant and keep out contamination.  (Hydraulic Seals)
 
Shim - A thin metal plate or washer used to pack or pre-load a bearing.              
 
Spacer - Used to separate or space bearings on the same or different rows in areas where multiple ball bearings are used, such as in assembly lines.  
 
Static Load - A load exerted on a bearing not in motion.