Selecting bearing unit designs and variants
The SKF ball bearing unit assortment is extensive. It includes three housing main shapes with a choice of five different materials and a wide variety of insert bearings that can be locked onto the shaft in different ways (→ Locking methods). The housing materials are:
-
grey cast iron
- composite
- pressed steel
- composite for the SKF Food Line
-
stainless steel
Because of their design, each ball bearing unit exhibits characteristic features that make it more or less suitable for a specific application.
Since, in many cases, several factors have to be considered when selecting a suitable ball bearing unit, there is no way to provide a list of general rules. However, important factors that should be considered include:
- locking method
- loads (magnitude and direction)
-
sealing solution
- operating temperature
- speeds
-
lubrication: relubricable or relubrication-free unit
Keep in mind that the total cost of a bearing arrangement and inventory considerations could also influence the final choice.
