ball and roller bearings - NTN Bearing Corporation of

TECHNICAL
INFORMATION
BEARING
RATINGS & FITTING PRACTICE
The following load rating information applies to radial, angular contact and tapered roller bearings, but not
specifically to thrust bearings. When determining load ratings, remember that all ratings are not absolute.
STATIC LOAD RATING
The static load rating is the Radial load that will cause a certain amount of immediate damage to the internal
operating surfaces of the bearing. This level of surface damage is acceptable in most cases but in some
demanding situations may cause too much noise, so a much lower load limitation may be necessary. A
higher load may be feasible if subsequent noise is not intolerable.
Actual noise levels are very dependent upon speed so if the speed is low, more surface damage can be
accepted. Also, tolerable noise levels vary depending upon the application.
The static load rating has nothing to do with allowable Axial or Thrust loading. In most cases, axial ratings
are much lower than those in this catalog so please consult NTN when such loads approach 25% of this
rating.
DYNAMIC LOAD RATING
The dynamic load rating has no direct significance other than that it is a number which, along with speed,
must be used in an equation to calculate theoretical bearing life. Load usage of this magnitude is usually
very inappropriate. Life will be too short and the bearing may become noisy if the static load rating is
exceeded. The rating can be used to compare different bearings if the life equations that apply to them are
the same.
LIMITING SPEEDS
BEARING RATINGS
Limiting speeds are shown for oil and grease and contact seals when appropriate. However, many factors
are omitted in this simplified rating that can affect the actual limit in a given case. Although many applications
can run at much higher speeds, it is prudent to take precautions and consult NTN when speeds
exceed 75% of the limit.
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