Why do bearings have 3 digits?

NOVEMBER 02, 2022

Bearings have 3 digits because they are made to a standard. This means that every bearing made to that type of standard will have the same dimensions. This allows them to fit in many different applications.

The first digit of the bearing represents the bearing material.

Most bearings are made from steel or brass, but there are other materials available that have different properties and performance characteristics.

Steel bearings are inexpensive and easy to manufacture, but they wear quickly, which limits their application to low-speed or high-temperature applications where friction losses aren't critical.

Brass bearings are more expensive than steel, but they can operate at higher speeds than steel because they have better thermal conductivity and lower coefficients of friction than steel. They also resist corrosion to some degree.

Nickel-based superalloys offer superior corrosion resistance and wear resistance over both steel and brass bearings. They're most commonly used for roller bearings because the ball raceways in these bearings require high levels of corrosion resistance to prevent pitting during operation under severe conditions such as exposure to seawater or salt spray environments that would quickly destroy conventional bearing materials such as steel or brass.

The second digit of the bearing represents the type of bearing.

If this number is even, it means that the bearing is a deep groove ball bearing, which has two rows of balls and two raceways. This type of bearing has a high load capacity and can support radial loads as well as some axial loads. It is also very resistant to shock loads and vibrations.

If this number is odd, it means that the bearing is an angular contact ball bearing, which has two rows of balls and one raceway in each row. This type of bearing has a high load capacity in both axial and radial directions but cannot support large axial loads because there are only three balls supporting each side of the inner ring.

The third digit of the bearing represents the size of the bearing.

There are five different sizes of bearings that you might encounter:

-4: Most common and most versatile size. Typically used for wheel bearings, wheel hubs and other applications where space is limited. Also available in metric sizes (e.g., 4X10).

-5: Commonly used for wheel bearings on large vehicles such as trucks and buses, farm equipment and construction equipment. Also available in metric sizes (e.g., 5X12).

-6: Used in heavy industrial applications, such as mining equipment and heavy earth moving equipment. Also available in metric sizes (e.g., 6X15).

-7: Used in high-speed applications where speed is essential to keep a machine running smoothly (e.g., marine vessels). Also available in metric sizes (e.g., 7X17).

-8: Used primarily for very high speed applications where there is a need for long life without failure or maintenance (e.g., aircraft engines).

Bearings reduce friction between rotating parts.

Bearings are mechanical components that transmit force and movement between two or more parts. They are used in many types of machinery, including cars, bicycles, boats, and industrial machines. Bearings are also called lubricated bearings to distinguish them from dry bearings.

Bearings achieve their friction-reducing effect by separating moving parts by a small distance (a few thousandths of an inch) with a smooth surface. The bearings themselves do not touch the rotating parts or shafts they support, but may be contained within a housing or shield to prevent contamination and dirt from entering the bearing itself.

The most common type of linear bearing uses smooth rollers or balls pressed into grooves in metal surfaces. In addition to roller bearings, ball bearings can include those with cages that rotate with the shaft or have cages that do not rotate but allow multiple balls to move independently inside them.

The three digits of the bearing help people choose a specific bearing.

The first digit of the bearing number indicates its material. For example, a 2 or 4 in this position means that the bearing is made of steel. A 5 or 6 means that it's made of bronze. A 7 or 8 means that it's made of rubber. A 9 or 0 means that it's made of plastic.

The second digit of the bearing number represents the type of bearing. There are many types of bearings, but they can be broadly grouped into four categories: ball bearings, roller bearings, cylindrical roller bearings and needle roller bearings.

The third digit of the bearing number indicates its size. The larger the number, the larger the diameter of the bearing will be. For example, a 606 bearing is much larger than a 600 bearing because its diameter is greater than 10mm while 600 is between 5mm and 6mm in diameter.

Bearings are used in many industries.

Bearings are used in automobiles, machinery, aircraft, construction equipment and other industrial applications.

Bearings are used in automobiles to support the car's wheels and axles. They also provide the smooth operation of doors, windows and other parts of the car's body.

Bearings are used in machinery to support shafts and other moving parts. This allows for more efficient use of energy by reducing friction between moving parts. It also prevents damage from excessive wear on any one part of a machine or automobile.

Bearings are used in aircraft to reduce drag on airplanes as they fly through the air at high speeds.

Bearings are used in construction equipment such as bulldozers, cranes and excavators to reduce friction between moving parts of these heavy machines so that they can operate more efficiently and last longer with less wear on their internal components like gears or axles.

Anyone who is looking for bearings to use on their project needs to know this information. By looking at just the first digit of the bearing, you can figure out what type of bearing material it is. The size is how many inches that the bearing is. Keeping these two essential things in mind can help you figure out what type of bearing you will want to buy.