How to Select the Right Bearing (Part 7): Components surrounding the bearing

In Part 6, we explained about bearing lubrication.

A list of earlier "How to Select the Right Bearing" entries can be seen here.

In Part 7, we will explain about points you need to consider regarding the components surrounding the bearing.

Table 1 shows the bearing selection checklist.
In order to ensure the intended performance of the machine, it is important to lay out the components surrounding the bearing in accordance with the usage conditions.
It is also, of course, necessary to consider the cost performance of maintenance and inspection with mounting and dismounting.

Table 1: Bearing selection checklist

Order	Examination item	Major points to confirm
①	Bearing type	What magnitude and direction of load do you need? Will it fit in the installation space?
②	Bearing arrangement	Are you using two (or more) bearings on a single shaft?
③	Bearing dimensions and service life	Do the dimensions and service life satisfy your needs?
④	Bearing limiting speed, running accuracy, fits and internal clearance	Does it have the necessary running accuracy and rigidity for the machine? Does it have the fits and internal clearance to satisfy its service life?
⑤	Bearing preload and rigidity	Does it have the necessary rigidity for the machine?
⑥	Bearing lubrication	Can the bearing rotate stably over a long period of time?
⑦	Components around the bearing	What bearing surrounding structure/assembly are you looking for? <This is the focus of Part 7>
⑧	Bearing mounting and dismounting	Will it facilitate maintenance/inspection of the machine?

This Bearing Trivia entry explains the following points with regard to the components surrounding the bearing.

• The design (including accuracy and roughness) of the shaft and housing
• Bearing mounting dimensions
• Sealing devices

What is housing? -- What's the Structure of the Bearing? The role of the structure and parts in reducing friction

1. The design of the shaft and housing

Table 2 introduces the points to be aware of in the design of the shaft and housing.
Note that it is necessary to perform the design from a comprehensive perspective, also taking cost performance into account.

Table 2: Points to be aware of in the design of the shaft and housing

No.	Examination contents	Points to be aware of
1	Shape and dimensions of the shaft	Reduce distortion and bending
2	Shape and dimensions of the housing	Reduce distortion
3	Roughness of the fitting surfaces of the shaft and housing	Appropriate accuracy and roughness
4	The fillet radius of the shaft and housing	Smaller than the chamfer dimension of the bearing
5	The shoulder heights of the shaft and housing	Support applied force and make the bearing easy to dismount
6	Locknuts and screw threads for shaft mounting	Appropriate perpendicularity
7	Split housings	Shape and roughness of the meeting surfaces

1) Shape and dimensions of the shaft

A shaft should be designed as thick and short as possible, so that the force applied to the shaft during operation does not result in significant distortion and bending that would decrease the service life of the bearing. If there is limited installation space in the radial direction, it is also effective to select a double-row bearing or a wider bearing from width series 2 or higher.

For more details, see:

How to Select the Right Bearing (Part 1): The order of priority for selecting bearings, and the types of bearings

2) Shape and dimensions of the housing

A housing with rigidity should be designed, so that the force applied to the housing during operation does not result in significant distortion of the housing that would decrease the service life of the bearing. With housings made of aluminum or another light alloy, rigidity can be provided by inserting a steel bushing (see Figure 1).

Fig. 1: Example of light alloy housing

3) Fitting surfaces of the shaft and housing

The fitting surfaces of the shaft and housing should be finished in order to acquire the required accuracy and roughness (see Table 3).
The shoulder end-face should be finished in order to be perpendicular to the shaft center or housing bore surface.
Under general operating conditions, the fitting surface is finished by turning. However, if the conditions require minimal vibration and noise, or if the bearing is used under severe operating conditions, a ground finish is required.

Table 3: Accuracy and roughness of shafts and housings (recommended)

Item	Bearing class	Shaft *	Housing *
Roundness tolerance	Class 0, class 6	IT 3 ～ IT 4	IT 4 ～ IT 5
	Class 5, class 4	IT 2 ～ IT 3	IT 2 ～ IT 3
Cylindrical form tolerance	Class 0, class 6	IT 3 ～ IT 4	IT 4 ～ IT 5
	Class 5, class 4	IT 2 ～ IT 3	IT 2 ～ IT 3
Shoulder runout tolerance	Class 0, class 6	IT 3	IT 3 ～ IT 4
	Class 5, class 4	IT 3	IT 3
Roughness of the fitting surfaces Ra (μm)	Small size bearings	0.8	1.6
	Large bearings	1.6	3.2

［Remarks］
* Refer to the figures listed in the following when the basic tolerance IT is required:

Ball & Roller Bearings Catalog (Supplementary table 8: Numerical values for standard tolerance grades IT)

4) The fillet radius of the shaft and housing

The fillet radius (r_a) of the shaft/housing should be smaller than the chamfer dimension of the bearing. Generally, it should be a simple circular arc, but, when the shaft is given a ground finish, a recess (grinding undercut) may be provided (see Figure 2).

Fig. 2: Fillet radius

If the fillet radius must be larger than the bearing chamfer (r_a2 > r_a), a spacer should be inserted between the inner ring and shaft shoulder, or between the outer ring and housing shoulder (see Figure 3).

Fig. 3: Example of spacer inserted between bearing inner ring and shaft shoulder

5) The shoulder heights of the shaft and housing

The shoulder height (h) of the shaft and housing should be decided so as to make the bearing easy to dismount. The shoulder diameter of the shaft should be smaller than the outside diameter of the inner ring, while the shoulder diameter of the housing should be larger than the inside diameter of the outer ring (see Figure 4).

Fig. 4: Shoulder heights of shaft and housing

6) Locknuts and screw threads for shaft mounting

If applying an axial load or preload, locknuts or screw threads are attached to the shaft. These nuts/screws are set to be as perpendicular to the shaft axis as possible (see Figures 5 and 6).

Fig. 5: Shaft locknut for mounting

Fig. 6: Screw thread for mounting (attach the end plate)

7) Split housings

In a split housing, machine a recess on the bore surface where housings meet and finish the meeting surfaces smoothly, and then assemble the housings together (see Figure 7).

Fig. 7: Recess on bore surface area meeting surfaces of split housing

2. Bearing mounting dimensions

The "mounting dimensions" of a bearing are the dimensions necessary to mount the bearing. The mounting dimensions are the fillet radius and shoulder diameter of the shaft and housing.
Based on the standard values indicated in Table 4, our catalog lists the mounting dimensions for each bearing number (see Table 5). Additionally, the grinding undercut dimensions for ground shafts are given in Table 6.

Table 4: Shaft/housing fillet radius and shoulder height of radial bearings (excerpt)

Unit: mm

Chamfer dimension of inner ring or outer ring r(min)	Shaft and housing
	Fillet radius ra(max)	Shoulder height h(min) General cases
0.3	0.3	1.25
1	1	2.75
1.5	1.5	4.25

Table 5: Mounting dimensions by bearing number (example; deep groove ball bearings; excerpt)

Bearing number	Mounting dimensions(mm)*
	da(min)	Da(max)	ra(max)
6906	32	45	0.3
6006	35	50	1
6206	35	57	1
6406	38	82	1.5

［Remarks］
* See Figure 8 for the meanings of the symbols used for mounting dimensions.

Fig. 8: Mounting dimensions of deep groove ball bearing

Table 6: Grinding undercut dimensions for ground shafts (excerpt)

Chamfer dimension of inner ring r(min)	Grinding undercut dimensions
	t	rg	b
1	0.2	1.3	2
1.1	0.3	1.5	2.4
1.5	0.4	2	3.2

３．Sealing devices

Sealing devices for bearings not only prevent foreign matter (dirt, water, metal powder) from entering, but prevent lubricant inside from leaking, preventing damage to the bearing itself. It is necessary to consider which is the most suitable sealing device as well as the proper lubricating method for your bearings' operating condition
Sealing devices come in two types: non-contact and contact.

1) Non-contact type sealing devices

Non-contact type sealing devices, which eliminate friction because they do not have a contact point with the shaft, are especially suitable for operation at high rotation speed and high temperature.
There are three varieties of non-contact type sealing devices: oil groove, flinger (also called slinger), and labyrinth.

a) Oil groove

This kind of sealing device has three or more grooves at the narrow clearance between the shaft and housing cover.
Except when used with grease lubrication at low rotation speed, it is usually accompanied by other sealing devices.

Fig. 9: Example of oil groove structure

b) Flinger (slinger)

Flingers utilize centrifugal force to splash away oil and dirt. They produce an air stream which prevents oil leakage and dirt by a pumping action.
They are very often used together with other sealing devices.

Fig. 10: Example of flinger (slinger) structure

c) Labyrinth

Labyrinths provide clearance in the shape of engagements between the shaft and housing.
They especially prevent lubricant leakage at high rotation speed.

Fig. 11: Example of labyrinth structure

2) Contact type sealing devices

Contact type sealing devices provide a sealing effect by means of contact between their end and the shaft, and are manufactured from substances such as synthetic rubber or synthetic resin. Synthetic rubber oil seals are the most popular.
Figure 12 shows an example of an oil seal structure.

No.	Names	Functions
①	Sealing edge	Prevents fluid leakage by coming in contact with the rotating shaft
②	Sealing lip	Provides proper pressure on the sealing edge to maintain stable contact
③	Spring	Raises pressure on the sealing lip and maintains such pressure
④	Outside surface	Fixes the oil seal to the housing and prevents fluid leakage through the fitting surface
⑤	Sealing edge	Strengthens the oil seal
⑥	Auxiliary lip	Prevents entry of contaminants

Fig. 12: Example of oil seal structure and functions

Typical oil seal types

JTEKT sells various types of oil seals.

Product Information: Oil Seals

Conclusion

In order to ensure the intended performance of the machine, it is important to lay out the components surrounding the bearing in accordance with the usage conditions.
It is also, of course, necessary to consider the cost performance of maintenance and inspection with mounting and dismounting.

1. The shaft and housing should be designed so as to prevent significant distortion and bending of the shaft and housing due to the force applied during operation. The fitting surfaces of the shaft and housing should also be finished in order to acquire the required accuracy and roughness. If the conditions require minimum vibration and noise, or if the bearing is used under severe operating conditions, a ground finish is required.
2. Bearing mounting dimensions are determined based on the recommended dimensions for the bearing number of the selected bearing.
3. There are two types of sealing devices: non-contact and contact. The type best-suited for the operating condition should be selected.