Specification Guides

Ball bearings are used to provide smooth, low friction motion in rotary applications. Ball bearings types include radial ball bearings (deep groove and angular contact) and thrust ball bearings.

Cylindrical roller bearings have high radial-load capacity and moderate thrust loads. They contain rollers which are cylindrically-shaped, but crowned or end-relieved to reduce stress concentrations.

Flange mounted bearings are used when a shaft axis is perpendicular to the bearing mounting surface. They are available in 2, 3, or 4-hole configurations.

Hydrostatic bearings and hydrodynamic bearings are fluid film bearings that rely on a film of oil or air to create a clearance between the moving and stationary elements.

Linear shafts are elongated, rod-shaped devices that provide linear or rotary motion for power transmission applications.

Mast guide bearings are bearings with a thick cross section that are typically used as guide rollers in high radial or thrust load applications. The outer ring is used as a wheel directly against a steel mast rail.

Needle roller bearings are a type of radial roller bearing with rollers whose length are at least four times their diameter. These bearings are valued for their high load capacity and low sectional height.

Pillow block bearings are mounted bearings that are used to provide load support for a rotating shaft’s axis. 

Plain bearings and sleeve bearings (also referred to as bushings or journal bearings) are used to constrain, guide or reduce friction in rotary or linear applications. They function via a sliding action.

Plastic bearings are used in wet and corrosive environments, clean environments, areas that are difficult to lubricate, and applications that require non-magnetic bearings.

Preload springs, spacers, and washers are meant to maintain tension in an assembly where some slack may be present. Their capabilities can eliminate rattle, compensate for expansion or contraction of the assembly materials, or absorb intermittent shock loads. These products are made of elastic deformable materials, most commonly convoluted ductile, high-strength metal alloys which come in machined, welded, and open-ring varieties.

Radial ball bearings are friction reduction, rotation devices that carry loads radially around its axis. A subtype of ball bearings, they operate through the use of lubricated steel balls placed between two circular guides. They are frequently called deep-groove bearings.

Roller bearings are used in rotary applications to replace sliding movement with low friction, rolling motion. The principal types of roller bearings are cylindrical, spherical, and tapered.

Rotary shafts are elongated, rod-shaped devices that rotate about a longitudinal axis and transmit torque. They are similar in shape to linear shafts, but are designed to withstand torsional forces.

Specialty rotary bearings are specialized or proprietary anti-friction bearings that don't belong to a conventional bearing category.

Spherical roller bearings are self-aligning bearings ideal for heavy-duty radial and axial loads. They utilize dual roller rows between a concave outer raceway and convex inner raceway to accommodate shaft deflection.

Take-up bearings are primarily used to correctly tension conveyor belts and systems, or to align tracks.  They are available in three component types: bearing, frame, and take-up assembly (frame with bearing).

Tapered roller bearings use rollers with different-sized diameters on each end. The rollers and accompanying bearing components can accomodate axial and radial loads.

Thrust bearings are comprised of components which support axial loads, and little to no radial loads. Types include tapered, cylindrical, spherical, and needle roller thrust bearings, thrust ball bearings, fluid-film thrust bearings, and magnetic thrust bearings.

Thrust washers are used as a bearing surface for rotary applications.  They are usually made of steel, bronze, plastic, or other material with low friction coefficients.