The importance of bearings in machinery and other applications

Bearings are an important part of many machines, as they reduce friction between two objects, allowing moving parts to move more smoothly. Bearings fall into two basic categories, radial and thrust bearings. They are radial on rotating axes, and support axial thrust loads. Of course, there are several different bearings available within these two categories. They include:

• Pull apart

• Ball

• Roller

• assembled and disassembled

• flange

There really are so many different varieties. Ball bearings are the most common type and are used in a variety of applications. Bearing tools, components and accessories work in a range of products manufactured to protect bearings and produce trouble-free operation. For example, gear pullers remove bearings for inspections and repairs, and bearing protectors extend the life of a bearing by ensuring that the lubricant inside the race stays in place.

How bearings work

Basically made up of a ball and a smooth interior and exterior surface to roll, the ball will support the weight of the load, and the associated force is what favors rotation. The way the force is applied depends on whether it is a thrust load or a radial load.

Radial loads put weight on the bearing causing it to rotate due to stress, while thrust loads put stress directly on the bearing from an angle. Some bearings even support radial and thrust loads. An example is a car tire, where it supports a radial load on a straight line and a thrust load when cornering.

Bearing Types

There are many different types of bearings, all made to handle both types of loads, as mentioned above. Both the type of load and the ability to carry the weight come into play when choosing the right bearing for the job. These are some of the variations.

Ball Bearings: Ball bearings are the most common, as they support radial and thrust loads. The downside is that they can only handle small load weights and sometimes warp if overloaded. They can be found in many products to include hard drives and inline skates among others.

Roller Bearings – Roller bearings are made to carry heavy loads. The main roller is cylindrical and the load is distributed over a larger area, making it easier for the bearing to take on large amounts of weight. Radial loads are perfect for roller bearings, but thrust loads are not; sometimes a needle roller bearing is used if there is not enough clearance.

Ball Thrust – Low weight, low speed thrust loads are best handled with ball thrust bearings. Ball thrust bearings are used in bar stools to better support the seat, this is just one example of how they are used.

Roller Thrust – Roller thrust bearings are very similar to ball thrust bearings. The difference lies in the amount of weight the bearing handles, and roller thrusts are found in car transmissions to support worm gears.

Tapered Roller Bearings – Tapered roller bearings are made to handle large thrust and radial loads. The versatility of these bearings makes them perfect for vehicle hubs, since they can transport both types of loads with a very high weight.

There are many types of bearings that are manufactured for very specific applications. For example, giant roller bearings, magnetic bearings, and other types of specialized bearings. The magnetic bearing can be located in high speed applications, this is because it has no moving parts. The stability makes it able to support elements that move quite fast. They are used to move very heavy and large loads, such as various types of buildings and large structural parts.

Bearings can be obtained from both physical stores and online stores. Dealing with a supplier who can recommend the best brand and type is an advantage. New bearings continue to be developed and improved for future applications.