How are miniature and small bearings classified?

Release date:

2025-11-11

According to the direction of load that the bearing can withstand, the nominal contact angle, and the shape of the rolling elements, deep groove ball bearings (a = 0°), also known as radial-contact centripetal bearings, are classified as follows: spherical bearings, self-aligning ball bearings, centripetal bearings, angular-contact ball bearings…

According to the load direction that the bearing can withstand, the nominal contact angle, and
Rolling Element Shape Classification
Serial Number
Category
Deep-groove ball bearings (a = 0°), also known as radial contact bearings
Centrifugal "Bearing"
Ball bearing self-aligning ball bearing
Radial Bearing
Angular Contact Ball Bearings (0° < a < 45°)
1 (Nominal Contact Angle)
Cylindrical roller bearing (a = 0°)
0° ≤ a < 45°)
Centripetal
Needle roller bearing (a = 0°)
Roller bearing "Self-aligning roller bearing"
Tapered roller bearings (0° < a < 45°)
Thrust Angular Contact Ball Bearings (45° < a < 90°)
Ball bearing thrust ball bearing (a = 90°)
Thrust bearing
Angular Contact Ball Bearings (0° < a < 45°)
2 (Nominal Contact Angle)
Thrust Self-Aligning Roller Bearing
45° < a ≤ 90°)
Thrust Tapered Roller Bearing
Roller bearing, thrust cylindrical roller bearing
Thrust needle roller bearing
Combined bearing (a bearing assembly consisting of two or more types of bearings arranged within a single set)
Table 13 is classified by bearing structure or nominal contact angle.
Serial Number Category Name
Definition
Radial Bearing
Rolling bearings primarily designed to withstand radial loads, with a nominal contact angle.
For 0°–45°
2 Radial Contact Bearings
Radial bearings with a nominal contact angle of 0°
3-Angle Contact Radial Bearing
Radial bearings with a nominal contact angle of 0°–45°
Thrust bearing
Rolling bearings primarily designed to withstand axial loads, with a nominal contact angle.
For 45°-90°
5-Axis Thrust Bearing
Thrust bearings with a nominal contact angle of 90°

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How are miniature and small bearings classified?