Spherical roller bearings combine very high radial capacity with real axial capacity and self-alignment (typically 1-2.5 degrees) - the heavy-duty answer where shafts deflect and housings cannot be aligned perfectly.
Serving paper machines, wind turbines, vibrating screens, marine propulsion and mining equipment.
Process Overview
Spherical roller bearings have two rows of barrel-shaped rollers on a common spherical outer raceway, combining very high radial load capacity with real axial capacity and self-aligning capability — typically 1 to 2.5 degrees of misalignment compensation.
They are the heavy-duty answer for paper machines, wind turbines, vibrating screens, marine propulsion and mining equipment, where loads are heavy, shafts deflect, and housings cannot be aligned perfectly.
Werkstoffe
Bearing steel (GCr15 / 52100); brass or steel cages per design.
| Material / grade | Standard | Key property | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chrome steel GCr15 / 52100 | GB/T 18254 / ASTM A295 (edition per certificate) | Through-hardening ~1% carbon steel; carries the most load of the three; continuous service to about 120 °C, hardness drops above it (supplier-reported) | The default for standard and OEM positions - motors, pumps, gearboxes - where corrosion and temperature are not the constraint |
| Stainless 440C (on request) | 16-18% chromium martensitic stainless | Chromium oxide passivation film; about 90% of GCr15 wear resistance at HRC 58-62; special heat treatment holds HRC 58 to 260 °C (supplier-reported) | Humid, wet or washdown duty; verify the temperature figure on the certificate rather than assuming it |
| Ceramic hybrid, ceramic balls with steel rings (on request) | - | Balls 3-5x harder than steel and about 50% lighter: lower friction and centrifugal load at speed; brittle under impact or overload | High-speed spindles and marginal-corrosion upgrades; not a substitute for chrome steel where load or shock dominates |
Oberflächen
Standard finishing per product standards; anti-corrosion packaging for export.
| Finish | What it does | Specify it when |
|---|---|---|
| Open (no seal) | Leaves the bearing relubricable in operation, so degraded grease can be purged and L10 life extended in heavy duty | Clean, lubricated environments with maintenance access - the only variant that is not sealed-for-life |
| ZZ metal shields | Blocks coarse ingress without lip contact, so the speed penalty is small (about 10,000 rpm published for small frames, supplier-reported) | Dry, dusty positions at moderate speed where relubrication is impractical |
| 2RS contact seals | Elastomer lip on the inner ring retains grease and blocks ingress, but adds drag: maximum speed drops 20-30%, and on self-aligning types misalignment tolerance falls from about 3 to 1.5 degrees (supplier-reported) | Wet, contaminated or washdown positions - accepting a sealed-for-life replacement schedule, since both 2RS and ZZ are non-relubricable |
Toleranzen
Dimensional and running tolerances to ISO precision classes P0-P6 as standard (P5/P4 on request for applicable types).
| Callout | What it needs | Effect on cost and lead time |
|---|---|---|
| P0 (normal class) | Boundary dimensions and running accuracy only - the class sets no noise, speed or clearance property; below about 3,000 rpm tighter classes are not measurable in service | Standard catalogue price and stock; stated to serve about 90% of industrial applications (supplier-reported) |
| P6 | First step of tighter runout bands, for duties between general machinery and precision spindles | Marginal improvement at a small premium - the cheap end of the step-up curve |
| P5 | Low-vibration, high-speed duty such as machine tool spindles in the 10,000-30,000 rpm band; usually supplied as angular contact, so paired mounting and defined preload come with it | Specialised grinding and matched sets: a significant premium plus mounting expertise on your side |
| P4 | The highest runout accuracy, individually serialized with inspection certificates showing measured values rather than class bands | The expensive end of the curve; quote- and lead-time-critical, confirm before the RFQ goes out |
FAQ
What is your MOQ?
50 pieces per model for standard catalog bearings; custom and OEM bearings are quoted per drawing and volume.
What is the lead time?
5-10 business days for standard samples, 15-30 business days for bulk standard bearings, 30-60 business days for custom OEM bearings.
Which payment terms do you accept?
T/T 30% deposit and 70% balance before shipment; L/C for qualified orders; agreed terms for repeat customers.
Which incoterms do you ship under?
EXW, FOB, CFR, CIF and DAP.
Capability commitments on this page are owner-confirmed .