Slide 1
Support motion with less loss
A bearing supports a moving part while constraining unwanted movement. Rolling bearings use balls or rollers to reduce much of the sliding at the support.
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Plain bearings use sliding surfaces and often a lubricant film instead. They can be appropriate at loads and speeds where rolling elements are not the best choice, so bearing means more than a ball bearing.
Slide 2
Carry the right load direction
Radial loads act across a shaft and axial loads along it. Different bearing geometries support those loads in different proportions.
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A bearing selected only for radial capacity may perform poorly under substantial thrust. Combined loading requires checking the actual arrangement and how the surrounding housing and shaft locate the races.
Slide 3
Lubrication separates surfaces
A suitable lubricant reduces damaging contact and helps control friction. Its behaviour changes with temperature, speed and load.
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More lubricant is not always better. Excess grease or oil can increase churning losses and temperature, while too little or an unsuitable viscosity can leave contact regions poorly protected.
Slide 4
Rolling still creates resistance
Real bearings lose energy through rolling deformation, local sliding, seals and lubricant drag. They are not frictionless joints.
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Seal choice can trade contamination protection against drag. A very low-friction open bearing may be unsuitable in a dirty environment if particles enter and damage the contact surfaces.
Slide 5
Life depends on the system
Alignment, mounting, contamination and lubrication affect bearing life. A catalogue load rating is not a guarantee under every installation condition.
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Tiny surface dents can create local stress concentrations that accelerate damage. Clean assembly and correct fits therefore matter even when the nominal load is comfortably within the bearing’s published capacity.