Ball Bearings are the rolling elements that are usually made using the rolling spheres that are held between the inner and outer raceways that support both radials and axial loads. This then acts on rolling the shafts for smooth movement with low friction. 

Before you decide to buy bearings, you must know that there are several different types of ball bearings online. 

It was a Welsh inventor Phillip Vaughan who was the first one to patent the ball bearing running along the groove in the axle assembly. After this, the Paris-based bicycle mechanic Jules Surrey designed the first radial ball bearings. Since its invention, many different mechanical instruments have benefited from these ball bearings. Ball bearings tend to allow the motion between different parts for mechanical operation. 

Here, in this article, we are going to share with you a few things that you need to consider before you buy bearings online. 

If you are looking to buy bearings, you must consider which type of ball bearing you want to buy. Moving on, you should also know - whether you need a bearing for an axial load or radial load. There are, however, some bearings that can support both radials as well as axial load. So, choose wisely. In addition to this, the rotation speed also plays an important part in deciding which ball bearing is best for you. Cylindrical roller bearings and needle bearings allow greater speeds but, higher speeds may cause misalignment which is where spherical ball bearings can prove helpful. Hands down, there are several factors that one should take into consideration while buying a bearing including its type, load, alignment, and more. 

Type Of Ball Bearings 

The first thing that you need to consider while buying bearings is to know which type of ball bearing is the best fit for you. 

Below, you are going to find information on all the different types of ball bearings in the market today. 

  • Angular ball bearings

  • Axial deep ball bearings

  • Deep groove ball bearings

  • Linear ball bearings

  • Miniature ball bearings

  • Self-aligning ball bearings

To understand better, let’s explain each one of these ball bearings one by one. 

1. Angular Contact Ball Bearings 

Whenever one talks about different types of ball bearings, it always starts from Angular contact ball bearings. They are the most effective type of ball bearings that come with the feature of disconnected internal and external ring raceways in relation to the bearing axis. This bearing allows the support of loads with the combination of both axial and radial forces. It is very difficult for one to dismantle the angular contact ball bearings and remove either balls or races. These bearings come with increased support of axial as well as radial loads. These types of ball bearings tend to increase the speed and minimize the friction to different loads. Single-row bearings, double row bearings, and four-point contact bearings are the three types of Angular ball bearings. 

One can use this type of ball bearings in Compressors, pumps, vehicle hub bearings, electric motors, etc. 

2. Axial Deep Groove Ball Bearings

For more specific applications like shaft-locating washers, one usually turns to Axial ball bearings. These are designed to provide support to axial loads. With Axial bearings, you can stop worrying about the misalignment. 

One thing to remember here is that you should absolutely avoid the projection of any radial force upon these bearings. 

You can easily find these types of ball bearings online. These types of ball bearings are best suited for agriculture, machine tool, material handling, wind energy, and printing. 

3. Self-Aligning Ball Bearings

Another very popular type of ball bearings is self-aligning ball bearings. These ball bearing features an inner ring and ball assembly which is held securely within an outer ring with a spherical raceway. They are designed in a way that they can tolerate a minor angular misalignment that occurs due to deflections or incorrect mounting. These types of ball bearings are usually used in long shafts since it is difficult for one to properly mount the housing bores. In addition to this, these bearings are also included in mechanical systems where there is a potential risk of shaft bending during operation. One thing that you need to consider here is to make sure that you use these self-aligning ball bearings to light axial load applications. 

4. Deep Groove Ball Bearings

These are the most common types of ball bearings that come in seal, shield, and snap-ring arrangements. The race dimensions within these kinds of bearing match the dimensions of the balls that are contained. They are designed to provide support for heavy loads. These types of ball bearings provide both axial as well as radial support. There are different types of deep groove ball bearings like single row deep groove bearings, extra small and miniature bearings, magneto deep groove ball bearings, and maximum type ball bearings. Some common applications of these deep groove ball bearings are electric motors, office machinery, garden tools, and vehicle motors. So, if you want to purchase ball bearings, you must consider investing in deep groove ball bearings.

5. Linear Ball Bearings

Another type of ball bearing is linear ball bearings. They are designed to provide free motion in one direction. These are the popular and widely used variety of linear sides that ensures a smooth precise motion along with a single axis linear design. These types of ball bearings come with self-lubricating technology which allows optimum performance and reliability. These linear bearings are made of two linear ball-bearing rows that are integrated within four rods on alternate sides of the base. 

Some common applications of these linear bearings are robotic assembly, cabinetry, x-ray & imagining equipment, precise instrumentation, and more. 

6. Miniature Ball Bearings

Miniature ball bearings are also known as an instrument or micro bearings have a nominal outside diameter of under 9mm. Small ball bearings come with less than 10 mm of inner diameter and more than 10mm outer diameter. These ball bearings are made of stainless steel because of the low force of objects exerted upon them. 

These types of ball bearings are commonly used in gyros, flow meters, small motors, radio-controlled models, and anemometers. So, if you are looking to buy ball bearings for either one of these purposes, you must consider buying these Miniature ball bearings. 

We hope you find this article helpful.