What are roller bearings?

Roller bearings refer to rolling element bearings capable of carrying a load while minimizing friction. A roller bearing transmits loads using cylinders rather than balls, which are used in ball bearings. This maintains separation between the moving parts of the machine and prevents the production of friction.

Roller bearings come in different designs and sizes and can be used across a wide variety of industrial applications. Some include:

• Tapered roller bearings
• Spherical roller bearings
• Cylindrical roller bearings
• Needle roller bearings

Importance of roller bearings

Roller bearings are widely used as an essential part of heavy equipment and industrial machinery across different industries, including manufacturing and power generation. They guide and provide support to the rotating parts of machines, enabling accelerated rotational speed while simultaneously minimizing noise, heat generation, and corrosion. Roller bearings are preferred to conventional bearings as they can handle higher loads. Being self-aligning by nature, they require minimum manual intervention and facilitate higher performance in machines.

Best Practices while buying roller bearings

Since roller bearings are available in a variety of types & specifications, it is important to make the right choice while purchasing. To do so, the following factors can be considered:

• Consider the dimensions of the roller bearings before buying them. Make sure you measure the dimensions with the standard number system with bores and choose one with specifications that meet your requirements.
• Determine whether the outer diameter of the roller bearing is right with your machines.
• The material of the roller bearing is another important thing to consider. Chrome steel roller bearings are the best options as they are more durable and cost-effective.