What Are Ball Bearings?

After looking through our product offerings at ProSource you might be wondering, what exactly are ball bearings? There are all sorts of bearings available for all sorts of different functions. A commonality between most is that they need to handle two types of loads: thrust loads and radial loads. Thrust loads, also called axial loads, are forces acting parallel to the bearing axis. Radial loads act perpendicular to the bearing axis. Ball bearings are special in that they can withstand both thrust and radial loads.

HOW DO BALL BEARINGS DO IT?

Ball bearings use balls to separate the two “races” or bearing rings. This reduces surface contact and friction across their 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.

ARE THERE TYPES OF BALL BEARINGS?

You might have come across ball bearings by a different name. A variety of different designs and applications are out there for ball bearings. The designs are all specific to their industrial application and load type, but some of the most common types of ball bearings are as follows:

• Angular Contact Bearings: These ball bearings are made to work under combined radial and axial loads. Axially asymmetrical raceways redistribute radial loads through the bearing, making them great for supporting combined loads.
• Axial Bearings: These are also sometimes called thrust ball bearings. They function under the force applied parallel to the bearing’s axis. They do this by utilizing multiple raceways side by side.
• Deep-Groove Bearings: Deep-groove ball bearings can carry radial and light axial loads. The raceway design helps these bearings to support higher loads than other ball bearings.
• High-Speed Angular Contact Bearings: These high-speed bearings are designed to handle high RPMs with precision and accuracy.
• Linear Bearings: Linear ball bearing and created to allow movement in one direction along a linear axis.
• Self-Aligning Ball Bearings: These ball bearings are made with two sets of balls that self-align to carry both radial and light axial loads.

WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC PARTS OF BALL BEARINGS?

As with most bearings, ball bearings can have a variety of features that provide different types of support to the bearing performance. These features help create the specific support necessary for the intended function that the ball bearing will add to.

• Cage: Cages in ball bearings are usually made of steel or polyamide plastic, depending on the application. While they are cheaper to make, plastic cages may not be suitable in hotter temperatures. Cages keep the balls inside the bearing, in place and with friction reduced. 
• Flange: To simplify installation and axial location, the flange can be installed to fix the bearing onto the mounting surface.
• Material: You’ll see ball bearings made from stainless steel, chrome steel or ceramic. Hybrid bearings, like those with steel raceways and ceramic balls, can be used to decrease friction. Lighter balls allow for faster spinning and less energy used for rotational movement.
• Rows: Ball bearings are frequently installed in pairs to distribute loads more evenly. Double row bearings have two rows of balls, which eliminates the need to install multiple bearings.
• Self-Alignment: Self-aligning ball bearings feature an outer ring with a spherical raceway. This allows the bearing to tolerate angular misalignment that could be due to housing or shaft deflections or improper mounting.

CONTACT PROSOURCE FOR ASSISTANCE WITH ANY TYPE OF BEARING!

With our lineup of ball bearing types, you might want some extra help in deciding which bearing to use for your application. Our ProSource professionals are always happy to answer any questions you have regarding our products! Let us put our expertise to the test in helping you pick the perfect ball bearing for you. For more information on ball bearings, you could also visit our ball bearings page here!