Long thin rollers for high load in a small radial space: drawn cups, machined rings and cages.
Needle roller bearings use long, thin rollers, so they carry high radial loads in a very small radial space. Common designs are the HK and BK drawn cup bearings, which are pressed into a housing, and the NK and NA machined-ring bearings. Many have no inner ring and run directly on a hardened, ground shaft. In their tables, Fw is the diameter of the circle under the rollers, which is the shaft diameter where there is no inner ring.
HK and BK drawn cup bearings, NK and NA machined-ring bearings and needle roller cage assemblies. SKF and INA.
All the needle roller bearings sizes we supply (194)
Sizes and load ratings are from SKF’s catalogue: d is the bore, D the outside diameter and B the width and Fw the diameter of the roller set (the shaft diameter where there is no inner ring), all in mm; C is the dynamic load rating in kN. We supply SKF and FAG; ask for other brands. Prices change, so tap “Price” to ask us on WhatsApp.
HK is a drawn cup bearing with open ends and BK has one end closed. NK is a machined-ring bearing without an inner ring and NA is one with an inner ring. Numbers such as HK 1512 give the size: 15 is Fw in mm and 12 is the width in mm.
The shaft as raceway
A bearing without an inner ring runs directly on the shaft, so the shaft has to be hardened and ground, with the diameter tolerance the maker gives. If it is not, the bearing wears quickly.
Radial load only
Needle roller bearings carry load across the shaft. They do not locate the shaft along its length, so a thrust bearing or a shoulder is needed for that.
Buying tips for needle roller bearings
Match the full designation: the letters give the design (HK, BK, NK, NA) and the digits give the size.
Without an inner ring the shaft itself is the raceway, so it must be hardened and ground to the maker’s specification.
Needle roller bearings carry radial load only. Axial load needs a separate thrust bearing.
Brands
Needle Roller Bearings from every major maker
Genuine stock from SKF, FAG, NTN, NSK, KOYO, INA and HCH, and other manufacturers on request.
What does Fw mean in a needle roller bearing table?
Fw is the diameter of the circle that touches the inside of the needle rollers. For a bearing without an inner ring, it is the diameter the shaft must be.
What is the difference between HK and BK?
Both are drawn cup bearings. The HK has open ends and the BK has one end closed, which seals the shaft end.
An angular contact bearing carries radial and axial load together because the balls touch the rings at an angle. Here is how they work and how to order one.