7 major properties of bearings

1. Hardness

Hardness is one of the important qualities of bearing quality, and has a direct impact on contact fatigue strength, wear resistance, and elastic limit. The hardness of the bearing in use should generally reach HRC61~65 to enable the bearing to obtain higher contact fatigue strength and wear resistance.

2. Rust resistance

In order to prevent bearing parts and finished products from being corroded and rusted during processing, storage and use, the bearings should have good rust resistance.

3. Self-aligning performance

When the center line of the shaft is tilted relative to the center line of the bearing seat hole, the bearing can still work normally. Double-row radial spherical ball bearings and double-row radial spherical roller bearings have good self-aligning performance. The operating speed of the roller bearing should be lower than the limit speed. Selecting high-precision bearings, improving the cage structure and materials, using oil mist lubrication, and improving cooling conditions can all increase the limit speed.

4. Lubrication performance

The purpose of bearing lubrication is to reduce internal friction and wear of bearings, prevent burning and sticking; extend its service life; discharge friction heat, cool, prevent bearing overheating, and prevent lubricating oil from aging; and also prevent foreign matter from invading the inside of bearings, or prevent rust and corrosion.

5. Wear resistance

When the bearing is working, not only rolling friction but also sliding friction occurs between the rings, rolling elements and cages, which causes continuous wear of bearing parts. In order to reduce the wear of bearing parts, maintain the stability of bearing accuracy and extend the service life, the bearing should have good wear resistance.

6. Contact fatigue strength

Under the action of cyclic loads, the contact surface of the bearing is prone to fatigue damage, that is, cracking and peeling, which is the main form of bearing damage. Therefore, in order to increase the service life of the bearing, the bearing must have a high contact fatigue strength.

7. Processing performance

During the production process, bearing parts must go through many cold and hot processing processes. In order to meet the requirements of large quantities, high efficiency and high quality, the bearing should have good processing performance. For example, cold and hot forming performance, cutting performance, hardenability, etc.