Selecting the correct bearing type is one of the most impactful engineering decisions in machine design. The wrong choice leads to premature wear, excessive vibration and costly unplanned downtime. Here's a handy comparison of the three most common types.
Deep groove ball bearings (e.g. SKF 6200 series)
Best suited for: General purpose applications with moderate radial and axial loads.
- Load capacity: Moderate radial, light to moderate axial load (both directions)
- Speed: Highest of the three types – ideal for high-speed applications
- Angle tolerance: Very low (0.1-0.3°)
- Noise/Vibration: Lowest – excellent for precision applications
- Typical applications: Electric motors, pumps, conveyor rollers, fans, gears
Deep groove ball bearings are the workhorse of the industrial world. When in doubt, they are usually the right place to start.
Angular contact ball bearings (e.g. SKF 7200 series)
Best suited for: Applications with combined radial and significant axial loading.
- Load Capacity: Higher axial capacity than deep groove ball bearings (only one direction per bearing; use pairs for bidirectional loading)
- Speed speed: High, although slightly lower than deep groove ball bearings
- Angle tolerance: Very low
- Contact angle: 15°, 25° or 40° - higher Angle = more axial capacity, but lower speed
- Typical applications: Machine tool spindles, pumps with axial loads, wheel hubs for motor vehicles
Angular contact ball bearings must be axially preloaded. They are almost always used in pairs (back-to-back or face-to-face arrangement).
Cylindrical roller bearings (e.g. SKF NU/NJ series)
Best suited for: High radial loads with limited axial load requirements.
- Load capacity: Very high radial load (50–100% more than comparable ball bearings); minimal or no axial capacity (depending on design)
- Speed: Moderate to high
- Angle tolerance: Very low
- Typical applications: Rolling mills, large electric motors, railway axles, crane wheels
Quick selection matrix
| Criteria | deep groove ball bearings | Angular contact ball bearings | Cylindrical roller bearings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radial load | Moderate | Moderate | Very high |
| Axial load | Easy | High (1 direction) | None/Easy |
| Max. Speed | Very high | High | Moderate-High |
| Angle tolerance | Bad | Bad | Bad |
| Costs | Low | Medium | Medium-High |
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