Bearing Basics

Basic Bearing Designation System

SKF Bearing Designations
Bearing Designations are of two types

 Basic Designations
 Supplementary Designations
 SKF Bearing Designations

The basic designation identifies:

• Product type
• Standard design
• Size

The supplementary designation identifies:

• Alternative design (variants)
• Bearing components
• Types of special bearings
The Supplementary Designations identify

 Alternative Designs ( Variants )

 Bearing Components
 Type of Special Bearing

Supplementary designation consists of

 Prefixes
 Suffixes
Width and Diameter Variations
ISO Standards

ISO
International
Organization for
Standardization
Basic Designation for Metric Bearings

 Consists of 5 digits
 First digit denotes Bearing Type
 Second digit denotes Width /
Height
 Third digit denotes OD
 Fourth & fifth digits denote ID
Diameter Series
Relationship: Diameter and Width
Series
 Dimension Series

Diameter Series
Width Series
Dimension Series
0 1 2 3
3
03 13 23 33
2 02 12 22 32
0 00 10 20 30
How the Designation System Works
Bearing types

Radial bearings, width (B, T) Thrust bearing, height (H)

Outside diameter (D)

Bearing size d/5

(30 mm bore diameter)

Bearing Type Designations:
Cylindrical Roller Bearings
NU NJ NUP

N NU + HJ NJ + HJ
 Basic Series Designations:
Standard Inch Size Bearings

L L L L
Bore
Bearing Bearing
1/8’s
type series
of inch
Standard Inch Size Bearing Types
RLS RMS deep groove ball bearings

RL RM self-aligning ball bearings

ALS AMS angular contact ball bearings

CRL CRM cylindrical roller bearings

L: light series M: medium series

Example : Inch Size Designations

RLS 10 deep groove ball, d = 1 1/4˝, light

RL 16 self-aligning ball, d = 2˝, light

ALS 40 angular contact ball, d = 5˝, light

CRM 24 cylindrical roller, d = 3˝, medium

O 20 thrust ball, d = 2 1/2˝

Inch Size Taper Roller Bearings:
Cups and Cones

Inch taper roller

bearings are designed
around roller & cage
assemblies, and belong to
families

: Basic design
(family)
 SKF Bearing Designations

The supplementary designation identifies:

• Variants – deviations from standard design

• Grouped into four categories

• Added to basic designation in a specific order, where

more than one deviation applies
Categories of Supplementary Designations

Category 1 : Modified Internal Design

Category 2 : Modified External Design

Category 3 : Modified Cage Design

Category 4 : Modifications to enhance Performance

Category 1: Modified Internal Design

A AC

B BE

C and combinations thereof such as CA/CB/CC

CAC
D

E EC
Category 1: Modified Internal Design

A : * Transitional Designation / changed after a period

e.g., 4210 A : DRDGBB without filling slot
* Contact Angle 300 in SRACBB
e.g., 7056 A

B : * Contact Angle 400 in SRACBB

e.g., 7210 B
* Steep Contact Angle in TRB
e.g., 32210 B
Category 1: Modified Internal Design

C : * Contact Angle 150 in SRACBB

e.g., 7012 C
* SRB with loose Guide Flange , symmetrical
rollers and pressed steel cage of window design

AC :* Contact Angle 250 in SRACBB

e.g., 7210 AC

D :* DRACBB with two part Inner Ring and

Contact Angle of 450
Category 1: Modified Internal Design

E : * Larger ball or Roller diameter

e.g., 29320 E

CA :* SRB with loose guide ring but two integral flanges

with machined brass cage e.g., 23180 CA/W33
* ACBB for universal mounting with low axial
clearance when mounted in pair

CAC :* SRB of CA design but with improved roller

guidence
Category 1: Modified Internal Design

CB : * ACBB for universal mounting with axial

clearance larger than CA when mounted in pair

CC :* ACBB for universal mounting with axial

clearance larger than CB when mounted in pair
* SRB of C design but with improved roller
guidance

EC : * Single Row CRB with a greater number of

larger rollers than the original design, and
increased axial load carrying capacity in
Flanged executions
e.g., NU 320 EC / NJ 320 EC
Category 1: Modified Internal Design

GA : * ACBB for universal mounting with light

preload when mounted in pair

GB :* ACBB for universal mounting with axial

preload larger than GA when mounted in pair

GC : * ACBB for universal mounting with axial

preload larger than GB when mounted in pair
Category 2: Modified External Design

K : *
Tapered Bore ( Taper 1 : 12 )
K 30 : *
Tapered Bore ( Taper 1 : 30 )
N : *
Snap ring groove on bearing outer diameter
N1 : *
One locating slot on outside edge of outer ring
N2 : *
Two diametrically opposite locating slots on
outside edge of outer ring
N4 : * N + N2. Locating slots on side opposite to
snap ring groove
N6 : * N + N2. Locating slots on same side as snap
ring groove
NR : * Snap ring groove on bearing outer diameter
along with an appropriate snap ring
Category 2: Modified External Design
Tapered Bore Suffixes

Suffix K

Taper 1:12

Suffix K30

Taper 1:30
Category 2: Modified External Design

P : * SRB with two part outer ring

PR : * SRB with two part outer ring, with calibrated
spacer in between
R : * Integral flange on outer ring outer diameter
- RS : * NRB fitted with synthetic rubber seal on
one side
- 2RS : * NRB fitted with synthetic rubber seals on
two sides
- RS1 : * Rubbing seal of synthetic rubber with sheet
steel reinforcement fitted on one side
- 2RS1 : * Rubbing seal of synthetic rubber with sheet
steel reinforcement fitted on both sides
Category 2: Modified External Design

-RS2 : * Rubbing seal consisting of sheet steel washer

with vulcanized rubber fitted on one side
- 2RS1 : * Rubbing seal consisting of sheet steel washer
with vulcanized rubber fitted on both sides
-RZ : * Ball bearing with low friction seal consisting
of sheet steel washer with vulcanized rubber
fitted on one side
-2RZ : * Ball bearing with low friction seal consisting
of sheet steel washer with vulcanized rubber
fitted on both sides
Category 2: Modified External Design

X : * One or more of bearing external dimensions

altered to fully comply with ISO standards

-Z : * Metallic non-rubbing seal fitted on one side

- 2Z : * Metallic non-rubbing seal fitted on both sides

 Suffixes: Seals and Shields

Z 2Z RZ 2RZ

RS1 2RS1 N NR
Category 3: Modified Cage Design

F : * Machined Steel or SG Iron cage

FA : * F Cage centred on outer ring
FB : * F Cage centred on inner ring
FE : * Machined Steel Cage phosphated
H : * Pressed cage of hardened sheet steel
J : * Pressed cage of unhardened sheet steel
JA : * J Cage centred on outer ring
JE : * J Cage phosphated
L : * Machined light alloy cage
LA : * L Cage centred on outer ring
LB : * L Cage centred on inner ring
Category 3: Modified Cage Design

Cage Types
Category 3: Modified Cage Design

M : *
Machined Brass cage
MA : *
M Cage centred on outer ring
MB : *
M Cage centred on inner ring
MP : *
M Cage window type
P : *
Moulded cage made of glass fibre reinforced
polyamide 6.6
TN : * Moulded cage made of plastic
Y : * Pressed Brass cage
V : * Full complement bearing ( without cage )
Category 4: Modifications to enhance Performance

/CL7A : * Standard SKF quality for Pinion Bearings

/CL7C : * Special SKF quality for Pinion Bearings

/CN : * Normal internal clearance. This usually used

followed by H/M/L/P to denote part or
displaced range e.g.:
CNH : * Upper half of Normal
CNM : * Two middle quarters of Normal
CNL : * Lower half of Normal
CNP : * Upper half of Normal &
Lower half of C3
Category 4: Modifications to enhance Performance

/C1 : * Internal clearance less than C2

/C2 : * Internal clearance less than Normal
/C3 : * Internal clearance more than Normal
/C4 : * Internal clearance more than C3
/C5 : * Internal clearance more than C4
A letter H/M/L/P following the clearance
designation denotes part or displaced range.

/C01 : * Reduced tolerance for running accuracy of I/R

/C02 : * Extra reduced tolerance for running accuracy
of I/R : less than C01
Category 4: Modifications to Enhance
Performance Suffix Range for Internal Clearances
Radial internal
clearance C1 clearance less than C2
C2 clearance less than Normal
C3 clearance greater than Normal
C4 clearance greater than C3
C5 clearance greater than C4

Axial internal
clearance
Category 4: Modifications to enhance Performance

/C03 : * Reduced tolerance for running accuracy of O/R

/C04 : * Extra reduced tolerance for running accuracy
of O/R : less than C03

/C05 : * C01 + C03

/C06 : * C02 + C03
/C05 : * C01 + C04
/C06 : * C02 + C04

/C10 : * Reduced tolerance for bore & OD. In case of

tapered bore, refers to only OD.
/C20 : * Bore diameter tolerance less than C10
Category 4: Modifications to enhance Performance

/C30 : * Reduced bore diameter tolerance, towards

standard minimum limit.
/C40 : * OD tolerance less than C10
/C50 : * Reduced OD tolerance, towards standard
minimum limit.

/C60 : * C20 + C50

/C70 : * C20 + C40
/C80 : * Reduced height tolerance for thrust bearings

/C15 : * C10 + C05

/C18 : * C10 + C08
/C78 : * C70 + C08
Category 4: Modifications to enhance Performance

/DB : * Two single row DGBB/ACBB/TRB, paired

for mounting in back-to-back arrangement.
/DF : * Two single row DGBB/ACBB/TRB, paired
for mounting in face-to-face arrangement.
/DT : * Two single row DGBB/ACBB/TRB, paired
for mounting in tandem

/HA : * Case hardened bearing or bearing components.

For closer identification, it is followed by one of
following numbers : 0/1/2/3/4/5/6/7 e.g.,
1 Both rings
2 Outer ring
5 Rolling elements etc.
Category 4: Modifications to enhance Performance

/HT : * Bearing supplied with High Temperature

( upto +1300 C) grease
/LHT : * Bearing supplied with Low as well as High
Temperature ( -40 to +1400 C) grease
/LT : * Bearing supplied with Low Temperature
( upto -500 C) grease
/MT : * Bearing supplied with Medium Temperature
( -30 to +1100 C) grease
Category 4: Modifications to enhance Performance

/P4 : * Dimensional and running accuracy to ISO

tolerance class 4.
/P4A : * Dimensional accuracy to ISO tolerance class 4
and and running accuracy to AFBMA class 9.
/P5 : * Dimensional and running accuracy to ISO
tolerance class 5 ( More accurate than P6).
/P6 : * Dimensional and running accuracy to ISO
tolerance class 6.
/P43 : * P4 + C3
/P52 : * P5 + C2
/P62 : * P6 + C2
/PA9 : * Dimensional and running accuracy to AFBMA
class 9.
Category 4: Modifications to enhance Performance

/SP : * Special Precision, dimensional accuracy approx.

corresponding to P5 and running accuracy
approx. to P4
/S0 : * Bearing ring dimensionally stabilized to optg.
temperatures upto + 1500C
/S1 : * Bearing ring dimensionally stabilized to optg.
temperatures upto + 2000C
/S2 : * Bearing ring dimensionally stabilized to optg.
temperatures upto + 2500C
/S3 : * Bearing ring dimensionally stabilized to optg.
temperatures upto + 3000C
/S4 : * Bearing ring dimensionally stabilized to optg.
temperatures upto + 3500C
Category 4: Modifications to enhance Performance

/UP : * Ultra Precision, dimensional accuracy approx.

corresponding to P4 and running accuracy
better than P4
/W20 : * Three lubrication holes in outer ring
/W33 : * Lubricating groove and three lubrication holes
in outer ring
/Vxxxx: * V plus a second letter followed by a three figure
number denoting variants not covered by
“logical” supplementary designations. e.g:
VA 201 : Bearings for Kiln Trucks
VA 301 : Bearings for Traction Motors
Category 4: Modifications to Enhance
Performance
Tolerance Tolerance Tolerance Tolerance
ISO ABEC SKF RHP / NSK
P0 1 Normal P0

P6 3 P6 P6

P5 5 P5 P5

P4 7 SP P4
P4A

P2 9 UP P2
PA9A
 SKF Bearing Designations
The sequence of writing the designations:
• Prefix – if any
• Basic designation
• Supplementary designation of category 1
• Supplementary designation of category 2
• Supplementary designation of category 3
• Stroke
• Supplementary designation of category 4
SKF Bearing Designations
 SKF Bearing Designations
The sequence of writing the designations:
• Where two suffixes follow one another, the first ending
with a figure and the second starting with one, a stroke
is to be used
e.g: 6310 / C4/ 630251
• Where a suffix for a divided clearence range is followed
by a suffix for type of grease, a stroke is to be used
e.g : 6205-2Z/C2L/HT51 (C2L + HT51)
but : 6205-2Z/C2 LHT51 (C2 + LHT51)
 Date Codes
The Year Letter to be marked on a bearing or a bearing accessory shall
comprise a single letter in accordance with the table below

Letter Year Year Year Year Letter Year Year Year Year
A 1910 1934 1958 1981 N 1922 1946 1970 1993
B 1911 1935 1959 1982 O 1923 1947 1971 1994
C 1912 1936 1960 1983 P 1924 1948 1972 1995
D 1913 1937 1961 1984 R 1925 1949 1973 1996
E 1914 1938 1962 1985 S 1926 1950 1974 1997
F 1915 1939 1963 1986 T 1927 1951 1975 1998
G 1916 1940 1964 1987 U 1928 1952 1976 1999
E 1917 1941 1965 1988 V 1929 1953 – –
J 1918 1942 1966 1989 W 1930 1954 1977 2000
K 1919 1943 1967 1990 X 1931 1955 1978 2001
L 1920 1944 1968 1991 Y 1932 1956 1979 2002
M 1921 1945 1969 1992 Z 1933 1957 1980 2003