2. Outline of bearing selection

Currently, as bearing design has become diversified, their application range is being increasingly extended. In order to select the most suitable bearings for an application, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive study on both bearings and the equipment in which the bearings will be installed, including operating conditions, the performance required of the bearings, specifications of the other components to be installed along with the bearings, marketability, and cost performance, etc.

For reference, general selection procedure and operating conditions are described as follows. There is no need to follow a specific order, since the goal is to select the right bearing to achieve optimum performance.
 

 

 In selecting bearings, since the shaft diameter is usually determined beforehand, the prospective bearing type is chosen based upon installation space, intended arrangement, and according to the bore diameter required.
  Next, from the bearing specifications are determined the service life required when compared to that of the equipment in which it is used, along with a calculation of the actual service life from operation loads.
  Internal specifications including bearing accuracy, internal clearance, cage and lubricant are also selected, depending on the application.