You can use roller bearings for heavy-duty applications with moderate rotating speeds. Typical applications of roller bearings include power generation equipment, oil pumps, mining instruments, gear drives and rolling mills.

Depending on the shape of the roller, manufacturers specify the roller bearing as a cylindrical roller bearing, spherical roller bearing or tapered roller bearing. Additionally, manufacturers also classify roller bearings based on their required load capacity. Depending on the load carrying capacity, you can select a single row roller bearing, a double row roller bearing or a multiple row roller bearing.

Some important parameters you must consider before purchasing a roller bearing are:

1. Loads acting on the roller bearing
2. Operating speed of the roller bearing
3. Average fatigue life of the roller bearing
4. Type of roller bearing
5. Dimensions of the roller bearing: outer diameter, inner diameter and width

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy roller bearings from reputable roller bearing manufacturers

Once you have identified your requirements, evaluate different roller bearings available in the market.

I recommend: Messinger Bearings, a reputable industrial bearing manufacturer, supplies radial roller bearings. You can buy a needle roller bearing, a tapered roller bearing or a cylindrical roller bearing at Timken, another industrial bearing supplier. Shuster Bearings offers various bearings including a ball bearing, roller bearing and needle bearing. Bearings & Motive Specialties provides tapered roller bearings and cylindrical roller bearings. NSK offers a wide variety of roller bearings suitable for various applications such as pumps, motors, turbines and crushers.

Buy roller bearings from a reputable distributor or retailer

You can compare roller bearings based on product features and prices at distributors or retailers' websites. You can ask for a discount if you are buying in bulk.

I recommend: Bartlett Bearing Company supplies roller bearings suitable for applications such as pumps, motors and machine spindles. Dalton Bearing offers a large array of roller bearings including tapered roller bearings, needle roller bearings, spherical roller bearings and cylindrical roller bearings. Accent Bearings is a distributor of roller bearings from reputable bearing manufacturers such as SKF, Pobco Plastics and ZKL/ZVL bearings. You can buy tapered roller bearings at ABI Industries, another bearing distributor. You can also evaluate each roller bearing available at other distributors such as Alpine Bearing and Bearing Industrial & Supplies.

Buy a customized or specialty roller bearing

If standard roller bearings do not meet your requirements, opt for customized roller bearings.

I recommend: Pobco Plastics manufactures a nylon roller bearing that operates efficiently in chemical environments such as acidic and caustic fluids. In addition to its broad spectrum of standard roller bearing products, SKF also offers customized roller bearings. ZVL-ZKL Bearings supplies roller bearings suitable for applications such as vibrating screens and mining equipment. AP Technologies, a reputable polymer-bearing supplier, manufactures roller bearings for aerospace components, fluid power units, medical devices and industrial equipment.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Ensure proper shaft alignment when you install roller bearings.
• •  Keep an inventory of roller bearings and components such as rings, rollers and raceways.
• •  When you buy roller bearings online, inquire about the warranty and the shipping time.