Roller bearings

Frequently asked questions — Roller Bearings

• How do I choose between a roller bearing and a ball bearing?

  The choice depends on the nature of the loads applied to your mechanism. While the ball bearing offers point contact favouring high rotational speeds, the roller bearing provides a linear contact area. This configuration allows it to support much higher radial loads, at the cost of a lower maximum speed and a stricter requirement regarding precise alignment of the rings during mounting.
• What is the difference between the NU, NJ, NUP and N cylindrical roller bearing series?

  The distinction is based on their axial guidance capability. The NU series has no flanges on the inner ring and allows free axial expansion of the shaft. Conversely, the NJ and NUP series provide unidirectional or bidirectional axial guidance depending on the shoulder configuration, while N series bearings allow a degree of mobility. This choice is decisive for applications requiring high rigidity, such as machine-tool spindles.
• In which cases should tapered roller bearings be preferred?

  These bearings are recommended when your application needs to support significant radial and axial loads simultaneously. Belonging to the 30000, 32000 or HM/JM metric series, they must always be mounted in pairs in an O or X configuration to ensure stability. Their main advantage lies in the ability to adjust their preload by inserting shims, making them particularly suited to automotive axles and heavy-duty gearboxes.
• How do I handle misalignment on a large-diameter shaft?

  For flexible shaft seats or long shafts presenting a risk of misalignment, spherical roller bearings of the 22000 and 23000 series provide the appropriate technical solution. Their design allows a misalignment tolerance of up to 3 degrees. You can choose between open variants or sealed versions, identified by the 2CS suffix, depending on the protection requirements of your working environment.