Need help or advice?
(646).712.9672
Short time delivery delay
15
35
11
What is a ball bearing?
A ball bearing is a mechanical system that allows a rotation between a rotating element and a fixed element. The ball bearing consists mainly of two rings, a cage, and several balls. Indeed, this bearing has an inner ring, an outer ring, and a cage that will maintain the balls in position with each other.
The rings of these products are subjected to many shocks on a narrow surface. That is why these rings are usually made of chrome steel to be wear-resistant. They can also be made of stainless steel (inox) as required. The cage that holds the balls, it can be made of steel, polyamide, or even brass. This product is known to support high speeds and low loads, unlike roller bearings which will support high loads and lower speeds.
These products can meet the requirements of a multitude of applications. You can find these product models in the following applications
- Household
- Industry
-Agriculture
- Machinery
- Leisure
- Office
- Vehicles
- Tools
What are the different types of ball bearings?
Today, there is a multitude of ball bearings. They can be single or double row ball bearings, but also radial contact or angular contact. Radial contact bearings (also known as deep groove bearings) are the most commonly used bearings because they have the best value for money.
As for angular contact ball bearings, they are also available in single or double rows. These bearings have the same advantages but can support a higher axial load.
Whichever type of bearing you choose, it can be offered open or sealed, depending on your needs. The non-sealed steel ball bearing can withstand temperatures up to 120°. Standard 2RS models can withstand temperatures up to 80°. The advantage of using sealed bearings is that they are lubricated for life and do not require any special maintenance.
How to choose the right bearing?
Ball bearings are parts that are needed in many applications and industries. Indeed, whether it is on the wheels of your cars, your bicycles, your machine tools, or agricultural equipment, it is an indispensable element. When choosing these bearings, you must take into account several factors including
- Dimensions
- The environment
- Technical constraints
- The speed of rotation
- Load supported
Most of the time, the identification of bearings is simple. The reference is often written directly on the outer ring of the bearing or the seal/metal flange.
If this is not the case, it will be necessary to take the dimensions of the product. To do this, it is essential to measure the inner diameter, outer diameter, and thickness.
How to read the ball bearing reference?
RS, 2RS, 2RSH, 2RS1, RSR, 2RSR, E, EE, LLU, LLB, DU, DDU
These suffixes mean "with 1 or 2 rubber seals". This seal protects the bearings from water splashes. At 123bearing, we specify with the number "2" when the bearing is sealed on both sides.
C3, C4
Means "increased internal clearance". Often called high speed, this means that the bearing is designed for high speeds and moderately high temperatures. CAUTION, a bearing with increased internal clearance will not operate optimally at low speeds. We invite you to refer to the technical data sheet of the products you are looking for to know their RPM limit.
ZZ, 2Z, ZR, Z
These suffixes mean "with 1 or 2 sheet metal deflectors", for dust tightness. At 123bearing, we specify whether the bearings are sealed on both sides with "ZZ".
TN9, TVH, TVP, G15
These suffixes indicate that the cage (the part of the bearing that holds the balls apart) is made of polymer material. Usually made of glass fiber reinforced polyamide.
ABEC
The ABEC standard is used to classify bearings by their machining tolerance. This standard is regularly questioned because it does not include certain technologies that are important to ensure proper operation, both for efficiency and the life of a bearing.
Therefore, this standard is not widely used by 123bearing.
BHT / VT
This suffix indicates that the bearings are designed for very high operating temperatures. In general, the temperature is indicated after this suffix.
Please note that these bearings are designed for a specific application and require a high temperature for optimum life.
Discover our wide range of ball bearings on 123bearing.com
Are you looking for a watertight (2RS), dust-tight (ZZ), increased clearance (C3-C4-C5), or in a specific material such as stainless steel or ceramic? At 123bearing, we offer you a wide range of these products with different specificities to be adequate for your uses.
Indeed, we are specialists in the sale of bearings online and we offer a considerable range of products. KOYO, SKF, ZEN, FAG, NSK, NTN, SNR, INA, TIMKEN, and NKE are part of the range of brands we offer. You can select the desired product according to the size, brand, type of bearing, load capacity, or speed of rotation.
Do you have a question before placing an order? Our customer service is available and ready to listen to your needs.
