The smallest elements can sometimes make the biggest impact when using furniture and equipment in different commercial and industrial environments. For instance, roller and ball bearings in caster wheels make transporting heavy items across multiple surface types easy. Though it might appear as though these bearings are the same, they're vastly different and suitable for specific applications.
Which is best in the roller bearing vs. ball bearing debate? Our team at Caster Central has decades of experience producing many kinds of caster bearings and knows how confusing it can be to determine which bearing type is ideal for a specific application. Get clarity about the similarities and differences between roller and ball bearings in our guide below.
Don't hesitate to contact us if you need a specific caster bearing type for your business equipment.
What Are Ball Bearings?
Before going into a roller bearing vs. ball bearing discussion, you should know what both mechanical bearings are to fully comprehend their differences and applications.
Industrial ball bearings have outer and inner rings with a series of steel balls and a cage to ensure even spacing between the balls inside the rings. Both rings could be steel, ceramic, or another durable material designed to withstand heavy loads and high speeds in material handling applications.
The balls inside the bearing create low-friction contact points with the outer and inner rings. As a result, the bearing can move without much resistance or energy consumption. In other words, the ball bearing design makes it easy for items to glide over a surface with even load distribution.
Typical applications for ball bearings are:
Electric motors
Car engines
Power tools
High-speed tooling equipment
Pros and Cons of Ball Bearings
Ball bearings offer incredible versatility since they can move on more than one axis. They can accommodate applications with pure radial loads like gearboxes and machine shafts, pure axial or thrust loads like industrial conveyor and screw drive systems, or any load combination.
Ball bearings don't produce much friction because they don't have a large contact area for the load. As a result, they're great for applications where smooth movements at higher speeds are necessary.
Unfortunately, the lack of surface area makes ball bearings unsuitable for heavy loads. They function best in applications that require light loads and speed.
Types of Ball Bearings
Ball bearings can have a single or double row, but the former is more common than the latter. Both options have a series of balls between an inner and outer ring with a cage separating them. However, the single-row ball bearings have one row of steel balls moving along one grooved path, while the double-row ball bearings have two sets of balls and dual raceways.
The Conrad type of ball bearing is a radial ball bearing with a unique design that allows more balls to fit between the rings by creating a filling slot cut through the bearing's shoulder into its ball grooves. Including extra balls in this design increases the load capacity of the bearing.
What Are Roller Bearings?
When considering that roller bearings also create smooth movements like ball bearings, the roller bearing vs. ball bearing discussion might seem unnecessary. However, industrial roller bearings don't use a set of durable balls to facilitate motion. Instead, they use cylindrical rollers to reduce friction between the bearings and whatever surface they encounter.
The rolling element of this bearing sits between the inner and outer rings. Because of the size and nature of the cylindrical roller, it has a greater contact surface area. Like ball bearings, the cylindrical rollers have even spacing with a cage to maintain their positioning.
This design gives roller bearings an excellent load capacity with improved radial and axial performance. You'd usually find these bearings in applications and industries like:
Agricultural equipment
Mining
Construction
Pros and Cons of Roller Bearings
Roller bearings don't have to be cylindrical. They're also available in other forms like spherical, needle, and tapered shapes to work in more applications.
With the increased surface area, the rollers can support heavier radial loads. Roller bearings also offer exceptional durability, so there's little to no worry about heavy loads damaging them. However, they're bigger, so they're best for machinery and equipment with enough space to accommodate them.
A downside to using industrial roller bearings is friction. Roller bearings take on a little more friction than ball bearings despite their limited movements with radial loads. The extra friction may require additional maintenance to keep the roller bearings in good condition and prevent the need for premature replacement.
Types of Roller Bearings
Roller bearings come in many forms, like spherical roller bearings. These bearings feature two rows of barrel-shaped rollers on a spherical raceway within the outer ring. This type of bearing is good for carrying heavy loads.
Cylindrical roller bearings have rolling elements that resemble tubes and move with guidance from flanges on the other or inner ring. The bearing is suitable for relatively high speeds since the cylindrical elements inside the bearing don't produce much friction. It's common to find cylindrical roller bearings working alongside angular contact ball bearings in machine spindles.
As a variant of cylindrical roller bearings, needle bearings have long rollers that are smaller in diameter in relation to their length. The increase in surface area in contact with the raceways means these rollers can accommodate a greater load capacity without needing more clearance between the bearing's axle and the rest of the structure.
Another common type of roller bearing is the tapered variety. With tapered roller bearings, each rolling element has one end that's smaller than the other. As a result, the outer ring has a slightly curved design to prevent edge loading on the rollers. Tapered roller bearings can manage pure axial load applications at moderate speed.
The Difference Between Roller and Ball Bearings
If you need bearings for an application that demands speed but doesn't have a heavy load, ball bearings are likely the best choice. On the other hand, roller bearings are best for heavy-duty applications with shocks.
Manufacturers frequently sell ball bearings as assemblies. When it's time to replace them, you'd need to replace the unit, not individual parts. Roller bearings are different; you can replace the inner and outer rings individually if necessary.
Because ball bearings are versatile, the single-row bearing style is the standard. You can use them in various applications regardless of manufacturers. However, roller bearings don't have a specific standard, so particular applications will require a specific bearing brand, type, size, and so on.
Another difference between ball and roller bearings is the possibility of usage following the misalignment of a roller element. For example, ball bearings could still work if a ball has an angular misalignment up to 0.004 inches between the bearing and the shaft. Roller bearing misalignments are less forgiving and could stop functioning correctly if a roller falls too far out of place.
Get the Caster Bearings You Need From Caster Central
No matter your thoughts regarding the roller bearing vs. ball bearing discussion, Caster Central is the go-to destination to acquire either. We offer a wide range of wheel and material handling products and accessories, from cylindrical roller bearings to various mount types of caster wheels.
Caster Central has over 150 years of experience as an industry leader. We provide caster bearing solutions for any personal, commercial, or industrial use and back our products and services with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Our knowledgeable and well-trained team is ready to help you in any way. Call (800) 445-4082 today to inquire about our Caster Central products.
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Check the Bearings Model🔍 Ball Bearings Size Chart
The ball bearing size chart is a comprehensive reference guide that displays various dimensions and specifications of ball bearings.
The primary parameters included in a bearing size chart are
The size chart provides essential measurements such as the bore diameter (inner diameter), outer diameter, and width of the bearing. These dimensions determine the compatibility of the bearing with its intended shaft and housing.
Ball bearings are subjected to radial and axial loads during operation. Load ratings in the size chart indicate the maximum load capacity a bearing can handle before experiencing premature failure.
Speed ratings define the maximum rotational speed at which a bearing can operate without causing excessive heat generation or premature wear.
Bearing clearance is the internal gap between the balls and raceways. It influences the bearing's axial and radial play and thermal expansion characteristics.
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If a ball bearing is not selected according to the size chart or the specific requirements of the application, several problems can occur:
Choosing an incorrect bearing size can lead to misalignment and increased friction between the bearing and its housing. This heightened friction can cause rapid wear and deterioration of the bearing components, reducing its lifespan significantly.
Bearings that are too small or too large for the application may not distribute loads evenly. This uneven load distribution can lead to inefficient operation, as the bearing might not handle the applied forces and rotations as intended. As a result, machinery efficiency can be compromised, leading to decreased overall performance.
Improperly sized bearings may not dissipate heat effectively. Excessive heat buildup due to friction can occur, leading to overheating of the bearing and surrounding components. Elevated temperatures can degrade lubricants, weaken materials, and ultimately result in bearing failure.
Mismatched bearings can cause vibrations and noise during operation. These vibrations not only affect the smoothness of machinery but can also lead to structural damage over time. Additionally, the noise generated can be a sign of misalignment or uneven load distribution, indicating potential issues with the bearing's performance.
Bearings that do not match the application requirements are more prone to premature failure. Replacing failed bearings and addressing resulting issues can lead to costly downtime in industrial processes, affecting productivity and profitability.
In critical applications such as automotive or aerospace systems, using improperly sized bearings can pose serious safety risks. Sudden failures due to mismatched bearings can lead to accidents, especially in high-speed or high-load scenarios, endangering both equipment and personnel.
Bearing No. Bore(d) (mm) Outer(D) (mm) Width(B) (mm) r (mm) Dynamic (kgf) Static (kgf) Weight (g) 6000 10 26 8 0.5 360 196 19 6001 12 28 8 0.5 400 229 22 6002 15 32 9 0.5 440 263 30 6003 17 35 10 0.5 470 296 39 6004 20 42 12 1 735 465 69 6005 25 47 12 1 790 525 80 6006 30 55 13 1.5 1030 740 116 6007 35 62 14 1.5 1250 915 155 6008 40 68 15 1.5 1310 1010 192 6009 45 75 16 1.5 1640 1320 245 6010 50 80 16 1.5 1710 1430 261 6011 55 90 18 2 2220 1850 385 6012 60 95 18 2 2310 2400 415 6013 65 100 18 2 2400 2150 435 6014 70 110 20 2 2980 2660 602 6015 75 115 20 2 3100 2870 638To avoid these problems, it is crucial to consult the manufacturer's specifications and the appropriate size chart when selecting bearings for any application. Proper selection ensures optimal performance, longevity, and safety of the machinery or system.
All Ball Bearings Size Chart
Bearing No. Bore(d) (mm) Outer(D) (mm) Width(B) (mm) r (mm) Dynamic (kgf) Static (kgf) Weight (g) 6200 10 30 9 1 400 229 32 6201 12 32 10 1 535 305 37 6202 15 35 11 1 600 360 45 6203 17 40 12 1 750 460 65 6204 20 47 14 1.5 1000 635 106 6205 25 52 15 1.5 1100 730 128 6206 30 62 16 1.5 1530 1050 199 6207 35 72 17 2 2010 1430 288 6208 40 80 18 2 2280 1650 366 6209 45 85 19 2 2570 1880 407 6210 50 90 20 2 2750 2100 463 6211 55 100 21 2.5 3400 2660 608 6212 60 110 22 2.5 4100 3300 622 6213 65 120 23 2.5 4500 3650 990 6214 70 125 24 2.5 4900 4000 1071 6215 75 130 25 2.5 5150 4400 1180
All Ball Bearings Size Chart
Bearing No. Bore(d) (mm) Outer(D) (mm) Width(B) (mm) r (mm) Dynamic (kgf) Static (kgf) Weight (g) 6300 10 35 11 1 635 365 53 6301 12 37 12 1.5 760 450 60 6302 15 42 13 1.5 895 545 82 6303 17 47 14 1.5 1070 660 115 6304 20 52 15 2 1250 785 144 6305 25 62 17 2 1610 1080 232 6306 30 72 19 2 2090 1440 346 6307 35 80 21 2.5 2620 1840 457 6308 40 90 23 2.5 3200 2300 633 6309 45 100 25 2.5 4150 3100 833 6310 50 110 27 3 4850 3650 1070
All Ball Bearings Size Chart
Bearing No. Bore(d) (mm) Outer(D) (mm) Width(B) (mm) Dynamic (kgf) Static (kgf) Weight (g) 62200 10 30 14 5.11 2.37 44 62201 12 32 14 6.82 3.06 53 62202 15 35 14 7.64 3.72 65 62203 17 40 16 9.57 4.79 96 62204 20 47 18 12.84 6.65 145 62205 25 52 18 14.02 7.88 172 62206 30 62 20 19.46 11.31 275 62207 35 72 23 25.67 15.3 410 62208 40 80 23 29.52 18.14 616 62209 45 85 23 31.67 20.68 625 62210 50 90 23 35.07 23.18 726
All Ball Bearings Size Chart
Understanding the bearing size chart is crucial to making the right selection for your application.
Determine the operational conditions and performance requirements of your application, such as load, speed, temperature, and environmental factors.
Based on your application's needs, select the appropriate bearing type from the chart.
Look for bearings with dimensions that match your shaft and housing requirements. The bore diameter, outer diameter, and width should align with your machinery's specifications.
Ensure that the chosen bearing can handle the expected loads and speeds within your application.
Bearing clearance and tolerance may impact the overall system's performance, so make sure they are suitable for your specific needs.
Selecting the appropriate bearings is crucial for reliability and performance. As an outstanding bearing supplier from Taiwan, we deeply understand this importance. Through the comprehensive information provided on our webpage, engineers and professionals can fully comprehend and utilize these valuable resources to make informed decisions.
We are delighted to offer you professional consulting services. We firmly believe that choosing the right bearings is an indispensable step in building reliable and efficient machinery. Therefore, we are committed to becoming your most trustworthy partner. Whether you require standardized bearings, custom solutions, or bearings designed for high loads and speeds.
Extended reading:
Needle Bearing Size Chart｜Teach you how to choose bearings correctly
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