Needle roller bearings are durable, compact, and lightweight and are typically preferred over ball bearings when space is limited. They have rollers resembling needles, and their length generally is four times longer than the bearing’s diameter. Additionally, like all bearings, the primary function of a needle bearing is to reduce friction between moving parts.  You can read our Guide to Needle Bearings to learn more about the various types of needle bearings and their applications, or continue reading below to learn more about some of the unique advantages of needle roller bearings. Adva ..read more

How do you decide between using standard needle roller bearings and precision needle roller bearings? Answering this question comes down to understanding the factors of your application, including speed requirements, environmental conditions, space availability, and more. What Are Standard Needle Roller Bearings? Standard bearings could refer to anything from ball bearings to drawn cup roller bearings. A standard roller bearing is not necessarily designed for any specific application. When applications require tighter tolerances, that’s when precision bearings are needed. What Are Precision N ..read more

Thrust roller bearings are compact bearings designed to rotate between parts and reduce friction. They’re built to handle axial loads in both vertical and horizontal shafts, and help prevent shafts from drifting. Typically, they are contained in a two-piece cage which ensures that the rollers glide accurately. In this article, we’ll discuss several aspects of thrust roller bearings, including their design, typical applications, and advantages. Types of Thrust Roller Bearings There are two major types of thrust roller bearings. The primary difference between the two is the roller element that i ..read more

Needle bearings are small, lightweight components that are known for their durability, high-load bearing capacity, and ability to transfer motion between moving parts and surfaces. Additionally, these bearings have a low friction coefficient, which helps reduce premature wear on mating surfaces.  Because of their many advantages, needle bearings are often used within multiple commercial and industrial industries, including automotive, aerospace, construction, and agriculture; some of their primary industry uses include two-cycle engine applications, transmissions, suspensions, torque conv ..read more

Needle roller bearings are widely used in the automotive, medical, and aerospace industries. Because there are so many applications, each with specific requirements, manufacturers often need custom-made needle bearing assemblies.  If you’re in the market for custom bearings, you’ll want to read this article. In it, we’ll highlight everything that you need to consider during the design process. Do You Even Need a Custom Design? Before you incur the expense and lead time of a custom design, it’s worth investigating whether a standard design will meet your requirements. Universal Bearings ma ..read more

Although they are different components, “cam follower” and “roller follower” are sometimes used interchangeably. The job of both types of parts is to transform the rotary motion of a cam into linear motion. In this article, we’ll explain the differences between a roller follower and cam follower, as well as provide an overview of the characteristics, advantages, and common industry applications of each. What Is a Roller Follower? A roller follower, sometimes called a track follower, is a rigid, compact bearing system. If the end of a follower that comes into contact with the cam is a roller ..read more

Needle roller bearings, like other types of bearings, play a big role in how efficiently your machines operate. Any debris or dirt that contaminates the needle bearing will eventually cause premature wear and tear, which may result in mechanical failure and/or roller misalignment. Since bearings are also not resistant to corrosion or oxidation. The environment in which needle roller bearings operate will also affect their performance and lifecycle. Bearing failures are more common when the bearings are exposed to wet environments and corrosive chemicals, or if lubricated with low-quality greas ..read more

Rocker arms are an important mechanism in an internal combustion engine. Unlike other rocker arms, a roller rocker arm is equipped with bearings at the point of contact, which offers several benefits. In this article, we’ll discuss the function of a rocker arm, and why rocker arm bearings are essential. A Brief Overview of Rocker Arms There are two main categories of rocker arms: roller arms and non-roller rocker arms. In general, both roller and non-roller rocker arms are components in both private and industrial vehicles. Rocker arms in private vehicles are usually made from steel for durabi ..read more

Needle bearings are small, lightweight bearings that are capable of withstanding heavy load capacities. They can often be found in many automotive and aerospace components, from rocker arm pivots to compressors. In this complete guide, we’ll cover the components of a needle roller bearing, as well as its benefits and industry applications. What Are Needle Roller Bearings? A needle roller bearing is one type of roller bearing that features thin “needle” rollers. As mentioned earlier, they are small, rigid, and durable. They also have a small coefficient of friction, which allows them to easily ..read more