Performance and characteristics of angular contact ball bearings
Published on:
2025-12-18 16:57
Overview of Single-Row Angular Contact Ball Bearings
Single-row angular contact ball bearings are non-separable bearings, consisting of an inner ring, outer ring, steel balls, and a cage assembly. The cage can be made of nylon, stamped steel sheet, brass, or phenolic laminated fabric. Single-row angular contact ball bearings have raceways on the inner and outer rings that can be relatively displaced along the horizontal axis. Therefore, their design allows them to withstand combined loads—that is, simultaneous radial and axial loads. The axial load capacity of angular contact ball bearings increases with increasing contact angle.
Contact Angle Function
The contact angle is defined as the angle formed by the line connecting the contact points of the steel ball and the raceway with the vertical axis of the bearing, in the radial plane. The load is transmitted from one raceway to the other along the line connecting the contact points of the steel ball and the raceway.
Axial Load Direction and Pairing Requirements
Single-row angular contact ball bearings can only withstand axial loads in one direction. When subjected to radial loads, they generate additional axial forces and can only restrict the axial displacement of the shaft and housing in one direction. Although these bearings can only withstand axial loads in a single direction, they can be combined with another bearing that withstands loads in the opposite direction. When installed in pairs, the outer rings of the two bearings should be positioned with their identical end faces opposite each other, either wide end face to wide end face (back-to-back DB) or narrow end face to narrow end face (face-to-face DF). This arrangement prevents the generation of additional axial forces and allows the shaft or housing to be constrained within the axial clearance in both directions.
Contact Angle Options
Standard contact angles for single-row angular contact ball bearings are 15°, 25°, 30°, and 40°. The size of the contact angle determines the magnitude of the radial and axial forces that the bearing can withstand during operation. A larger contact angle allows for greater axial load capacity. However, a smaller contact angle is more favorable for high-speed rotation.
Internal Clearance and Preload Settings
Single-row angular contact ball bearings do not have requirements for initial clearance. The radial clearance within the bearing is pre-set to achieve the desired contact angle.
Single-row angular contact ball bearings are generally used in pairs, and the adjustment of the clearance during installation relies on experience and other methods, making the installation process relatively complex. The clearance of the assembled bearings is fixed, allowing for easier installation. According to the operating conditions, bearing assemblies are configured in two ways: with preload (pre-tightening load) and with pre-clearance (preset clearance). Preloaded paired angular contact ball bearings have zero or negative internal clearance. They are commonly used in machine tool spindles to improve spindle rigidity and rotational accuracy. The clearance (preload) of paired angular contact ball bearings is adjusted at the factory and does not require further adjustment by the user.
Universal Matching Bearings and Interchangeability
Standard single-row angular contact ball bearings are manufactured with only normal tolerance grades for their main width and end face runout, and therefore cannot be arbitrarily paired or combined. Universal matching angular contact ball bearings can be assembled in any configuration, including back-to-back, face-to-face, or in series. Universal matching bearings are available in two types: preloaded (with preload) and with pre-set clearance. Except for universal matching bearings, the individual bearings in other matched sets are not interchangeable.
Common Structural Configurations
The commonly used angular contact ball bearing structures are shown in the figure below:
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