Overview
Needle roller bearings (sometimes called “needle bearings”) use long and narrow cylindrical rollers that sometimes exceed JIS/ISO size ranges. They are categorized as thrust or radial bearings based on which load direction they support. Radial types include drawn-cup and solid types, as well as application-specific track rollers (cam and roller followers). Thrust needle and thrust roller bearings respond to axial load needs.
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Product List
Cage & Needle Roller Assemblies
Cage & Needle Roller Assemblies
Cage & roller assemblies are easy-to-handle bearings that offer high load capacity despite their small size. A unique cage structure guides the needle rollers and allows for effective lubrication even at high speeds.
Cage & roller assembles feature controlled contour crowning to reduce stress concentrations on the roller end from moderate misalignment/shaft bending, thereby extending bearing life.
Features
- User friendly
Easy-to-handle, with a unique cage structure that keeps the rollers in place. - Easy-to-lubricate
The outside surface of the cage forms the guide surface, providing good lubrication conditions.
Applications
- Planetary gears in automobiles, constant mesh gearboxes
- Industrial machinery, robot speed reducers
Drawn Cup Needle Roller Bearings
Drawn Cup Needle Roller Bearings
NSK drawn cup needle roller bearings feature a cage and full complement of rollers with a unique outer ring structure. These easy-to-mount bearings offer the thinnest outer ring of all rolling bearings along with high load capacity, high limiting speeds, and strong resistance to wear. Carefully selected alloyed steel allows for high maximum permissible loads, and surface-hardened cages help the bearings stand up to tough conditions.
Features
- Helps make equipment smaller and lighter
The outer ring's small cross sectional height helps support equipment downsizing and space-saving designs. - Low-cost, easy-to use design
Save costs with bearings that can be mounted axially with a press fit. No need for snap rings, collars, or housing shoulders. - Capacity for high loads or high speeds
Models with cages support high-speed rotation, while full complement designs allow for high load capacity.
Applications
- Planetary gears in automobiles, constant mesh gearboxes
- Industrial machinery, robot speed reducers
Solid Needle Roller Bearings
Solid Needle Roller Bearings
Solid needle roller bearings provide maximum load capacity with high precision in compact spaces. Suitable across a range of operating conditions, these bearings feature rings made of carefully selected vacuum-degassed bearing steel or carburized steel and precision-ground, heat-treated rollers. Lightweight and extremely strong, the cage guides the rollers accurately and smoothly.
Features
- High rigidity
Quality materials provide high rigidity that stands up to heavy loads and impact loads. These bearings are available with or without an inner ring. Types without an inner ring use the shaft directly as the raceway surface. - Internationally interchangeable
Available in internationally standardized dimension series based on ISO and MIL standards. - Ideal for machine tools
With high rigidity and precision, these bearings are well-suited to machine tools and other applications requiring rotational accuracy at high speeds under heavy loads.
Applications
- Planetary gears in automobiles, constant mesh gearboxes
- Industrial machinery, robot speed reducers
Needle Roller Thrust Bearings
Needle Roller Thrust Bearings
Needle roller thrust bearings feature cage & needle roller assemblies with a surface-hardened cage made of two precision-pressed steel plates. The rollers are retained securely in the cage to maintain smooth rotation even under large axial loads. These bearings are so small that they can easily replace conventional thrust washers in the same mounting space.
Different configurations are available, including standalone units, integrated raceway units, or units with different race thicknesses, to match mounting conditions around the bearing.
Features
- Space-saving design
Achieves a compact design with the same thin cross-section height as a thrust washer.
Using the gear side surface as the raceway allows for even greater equipment downsizing. - High rigidity and wear resistance
The cage is surface-hardened to provide high rigidity and resistance to wear.
Applications
- Planetary gears in automobiles, constant mesh gearboxes, torque converters
- Axial piston pumps, compressors
Cam Followers
Cam Followers
Stud-type track rollers (cam followers) have a thick-walled outer ring, crowned rollers, and a stud with a hardened raceway surface for a tough structure that stands up to shock loads. The stud head is machined with screwdriver grooves and hexagonal holes for easy installation. Sealed types pre-filled with quality grease are also available.
Features
- Easy-to-install
A screw is provided on the stud along with machined driver grooves and hexagonal holes to make mounting easy. - Sealed models available
Models with seals feature a labyrinth structure for low torque.
Applications
- Suited for machine tools and industrial machinery
Models with cages support comparatively high speeds, while full complement designs allows for high load capacity. - Track rollers, cams, rocker arms
Roller Followers
Roller Followers
Yoke-type track rollers (roller followers) have a thick-walled outer ring and crowned rollers that provide high load capacity to sustain shock loads. They come as an inseparable unit for easy handling suited for a wide range of applications, such as cams and rocker arms. Sealed types pre-filled with quality grease are also available.
Features
- High load-capacity
Dual-sided models can sustain heavy loads. - Sealed models available
Models with seals feature a labyrinth structure for low torque.
Applications
- Suited for machine tools and industrial machinery
Models with cages support comparatively high speeds, while full complement designs allows for high load capacity. - Track rollers, cams, rocker arms
Drawn Cup Roller Clutch
Drawn Cup Roller Clutch
Drawn cup roller clutches are compact one-way clutches that feature a specially shaped outer ring. They are characterized by their light weight and high torque capacity relative to their small cross sectional height. Drawn cup roller clutches provide accurate operation, low torque when over-running, and easy mounting. FCP/FCU Series are available for plastic housings.
Features
- Compact
Impressively small thanks to the drawn cup design. - High torque transmission
Drawn cup roller clutches offer high torque transmission for the same cross sectional height as standard drawn cup needle roller bearings.
Applications
- Office equipment (paper feeders), ATMs, fishing reels
- Pedal assist electric bikes, agricultural machinery, engine starters for logging machines
FAQ
- What are the differences between drawn cup and solid needle roller bearings?
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- Drawn cup types typically have thin, press-molded outer rings, while solid types are rigid and have comparatively thick, machined outer rings.
- Are there needle roller bearings without an inner ring or outer ring?
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- Drawn cup and solid needle roller bearings typically use the shaft as the raceway, so they lack an inner ring.
However, there are solid needle roller bearings comprised of an inner ring and a cage & roller assembly.
Cage & roller assemblies are comprised of these components only and have no inner ring or outer ring.
- Drawn cup and solid needle roller bearings typically use the shaft as the raceway, so they lack an inner ring.
- What is a one-way clutch?
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- A one-way clutch is a bearing that rotates in only direction and cannot be rotated in another direction (reverse stop/lock). These are often used in paper feeders, ATMs, fishing reels, etc.
They are sometimes used as a unit combined with plastic components to achieve a certain shape, such as a gear, pulley, roller, or similar.
- A one-way clutch is a bearing that rotates in only direction and cannot be rotated in another direction (reverse stop/lock). These are often used in paper feeders, ATMs, fishing reels, etc.
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