Have you seen the different bearing types like ball bearings and roller bearings? They look very similar as both of these are bearings and perform the same function. However, there is a lot of difference in the way they are put to use. Let see the difference between a ball bearing and a roller bearing.
Bearings support the weight of the moving parts
Bearings are internal components between moving parts that are used to reduce friction during motion. By reducing friction, motion between separate parts proceeds smoothly and unimpeded. Bearings also reduce the need for constant lubrication and slow down the usual wear and tear that component parts go through because of constant motion.
To achieve this reduction in friction, bearings need to be able to rotate freely along a specific axis. For this reason, there are two shapes that are used for bearings: balls and rollers. Bearings also provide act as a separating boundary between the two components so that they are never in direct contact with each other, thus reducing both friction and wear and tear. Most bearing assemblies come with a shield or seal that is designed to keep the bearings greased and prevent dust intrusion.
If you have anything in your household that rotates, the chances are that it contains a bearing in some form. Common examples include drawers, fans, and fidget spinners
Bearings are also expected to bear weight, which means they need to satisfy some qualification of durability. Ball bearing and roller bearings behave very differently when it comes to this aspect.
There are two types of loading to remember when talking about bearings: a radial load and a thrust load. A radial load acts parallel to the axis of rotation of a bearing, allowing the bearing to rotate. A thrust load is any load that acts at an angle to the parallel. How the bearing will react to a thrust load depend on the type of bearing.
In general, bearings are all composed of the same basic mechanics: a ball set within an internal or external ring. This setup allows for force to be placed on the ball, referred to as loading. There are two different types of loading with bearings; thrust and radial. If your bearing is working with a radial load, this means the bearing will rotate, or roll when put under tension. Alternatively, a thrust load will be subject to force dependant on the angle. Bearings have been around for hundreds of years and have many different uses, some of which include aiding in rolling (a tire), pulling, applications in hard drives, skateboards, and more.
A ball bearing consists of hardened spherical balls contained along inner and outer raceways. When subjected to a load, a ball bearing transfers the load from the inner raceway to the outer raceway, thus creating rotational motion.
The main characteristic of a ball bearing is that it has a very small contact area with the load. This contact area is theoretically a point on each side of the ball, although very slight deformations can expand this point of contact.
Ball bearings are far more common than roller bearings because of their simplicity. If you’ve tried opening up a fidget spinner, then you should already know what ball bearings look like. They can also be easily found around the house, such as in drawers, wheels, and hard drives.
Similarly constructed as ball bearings, roller bearings have line contact rather than point contact, enabling them greater capacity and higher shock resistance. The rollers themselves come in several shapes, namely, cylindrical, spherical, tapered, and needle. Cylindrical roller bearings manage only limited thrust loads. Spherical roller bearings can accommodate misalignment and more thrust, and, when doubled up, thrust in either direction. Tapered roller bearings can manage significant thrust loads. Needle bearings, a variant of cylindrical roller bearings, can handle high radial loads for their size, and can be made as needle roller thrust bearings.
Roller bearings are available as full-complement designs and needle bearings almost invariably will be of this style. Needle bearings are especially effective with reciprocating motions, but friction will be higher due to roller-against-roller rubbing.
When using cylindrical roller bearings on shafts with angular misalignment, it is preferred to use two short roller bearings back-to-back rather than one long roller bearing.
● Possess a good wear resistance
● Requires less lubrication
● Capable of handling thrust loads
● Can be replaced easily
● Can offer long service
● It can get loud at times
● Not competent in handling large weights
● Can get damaged due to shocks
● Tapered roller bearings are competent in handling high axial loads
● Capable of taking high radial loads
● Generates very less friction
● Produce fewer vibrations
● Very expensive
● It can be very noisy
Whichever is a bearing type you are looking for, with Hebei Nicer Technology Bearing Co., Ltd., you would get the best component and advice along with excellent aftersales service. Please visit us — for all your needs for purchasing bearings.
