Thrust bearings
Thrust bearings absorb forces in the direction of the shaft. Depending on the design, these forces can occur on one or both sides. The contact angle in a thrust bearing is 90° larger than that of a radial ball bearing such that only axial loads occur. The difference with this bearing is that all the rolling elements bear the loads evenly.
Balls (axial deep-groove ball bearings, axial angular contact ball bearings), rollers (axial cylindrical roller bearings) or needles (axial needle-roller bearings) are available as rolling elements. Thrust bearings are designed either as rings or as disks for higher loads. If rollers are used as the rolling element, the permissible speeds are limited.
Due to their design, thrust bearings are only suitable for low speeds with low centrifugal forces. However, they achieve very high rigidities.
The group of thrust bearings is divided into further subgroups based on the rolling element used:
Axial deep-groove ball bearings with rigid, non-self-retaining grooved bearings and disk-shaped raceway bodies
- Axial deep-groove ball bearings with rigid, non-self-retaining grooved bearings and disk-shaped raceway bodies
- Axial cylindrical roller bearings for high axial forces and impact loads
- Axial spherical roller bearings that absorb limited radial forces
- Axial needle-roller bearings for stiff bearing assemblies when small spaces are needed
- Combined radial/thrust bearings in the sense of an integrated assembly
Load capacity and speed
Axial deep-groove ball bearings as well as four point contact bearings are suitable for low to medium purely axial loads. The 521-522-523 series or the heavy-duty 542-543 series can be used if the force is acting on both sides. The four point contact bearing can also absorb torques and radial loads. Axial angular contact ball bearings are suitable for higher speeds.
Rollers and needles are suitable rolling elements for medium to high axial loads. Bearings with such elements are referred to accordingly as axial cylindrical roller bearings, axial spherical roller bearings and axial needle-roller bearings.
Miniature axial ball bearings
Axial ball bearings with a shaft diameter of less than 10 mm can be supplied both with a raceway groove (from a shaft diameter of 3 mm) or without a raceway groove (from a shaft diameter of 2 mm). F and FM as well as AKL are common designations for series on the market.
Findling’s rolling bearing technology
As a specialist for rolling bearing technology, we offer a wide range of ball bearings in all ABEG® performance classes, such as single-row or double-row deep-groove or angular contact ball bearings, as well as thrust or radial bearings, magneto bearings, four point contact bearings or self-aligning ball bearings, which can have a sealed or unsealed design and be made of a variety of materials. Ball bearings are the most frequently used products and are a particularly economical solution.
