Bearing selection process
When selecting bearings for any purpose, ultimately you want to be certain of achieving the required level of equipment performance – and at the lowest possible cost. Robustness also is very important because the conditions in which your equipment is assembled, operated and maintained may not be precisely known and may, in fact, vary over time.
In addition to the bearing rating life, there are key factors you must consider when putting together the bearing specifications for an application, including:
- lubricant and supply method
- shaft and housing fits
- bearing clearance class
- cage material and guidance
- dimensional stability
- precision requirements
-
bearing sealing
- mounting method and maintenance
Each icon represents a step in the process.
The process provides a straightforward step-by-step approach that shows the general relationship between each step. By clearly defining and naming the steps in this way, it should be easier to find information on a specific topic. In reality, however, you will find interdependencies that require you to loop back and forth between the steps.
SKF support
SKF application engineering service
The SKF application engineering service provides expertise to help and support you with your technical needs.Drawing on a wealth of experience, and supported by a global network of experts in a wide range of industries, local SKF application engineers work with original equipment manufacturers and end users to help and support them with their challenges.
Following a step-by-step application analysis process, and using SKF online and proprietary calculation tools, SKF application engineers can evaluate correct bearing type and size, and other requirements such as lubrication, fits and sealing, in order to obtain the right application solution and achieve reliable rotating equipment performance. → Supporting calculation tools, below.
Contact the SKF application engineering service through your local SKF representative if you have any questions, or require any assistance, when using the bearing selection process guidelines or information in the product sections.
Supporting calculation tools
In the early stages of the application analysis and design process, bearing selection is initially made using various assumptions and, as the process progresses, additional input is included to fine tune results
SKF can support you throughout this process with our engineering software tools (diagram 1), ranging from easy-to-use online tools, based on formulae provided in this and other sections on skf.com, to our most sophisticated simulation systems incorporating the latest theories.
SKF is constantly developing its engineering software tools for SKF engineers and customers to support them in obtaining solutions that are technically, commercially and environmentally optimal.