12/8/13 Bearing Failure Analysis, Bearing Spalling, Bearing Flaking & Peeling, Bearing Smearing & Scuffing, Bearing Wear, Bearing Seizure, Retainer Cage Da…

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Technical Definitions and Conversion Charts

1. Inch>Decimal>Metric Conversion Chart (PDF - 270KB)

2. Shaft and housing fits for electric motor style bearings (PDF - 446KB)

3. Barden Company engineering data for super precision bearings (PDF - 633KB)

4. Classification and Characteristics of Rolling Bearings (PDF - 1.85MB)

5. Comparison of the load carrying ability of different types of bearings (69KB)

6. Interchanges (PDF - 1.73MB)

7. How a Ball Bearing is made (PDF - 118KB)

8. Action Guide to Bearing Nomenclature (PDF - 4.08MB)

Bearing Failure Analysis

The accurate diagnosis of a bearing failure is imperative to prevent repeated failures and their additional expenses. While performing

failure analysis is commonly left to outside vendors, the actual collecting of information can make a great difference in correctly

diagnosing a bearing failure.

Here are some common failure types. Click on an image below for details or Contact Us for assistance:

FlakingSurface of the racew ay androlling elements peels aw ay inflakes Conspicuous hills andvalleys form soon afterw ard

PeelingPatches of minute f laking orpeeling. Innumerable hair-linecracks visible though not yetpeeling

SpallingScore accompanying seizing.Mounting score in axial direction.Scores on roller end face andguide rib-cycloidal scores.Scratches in spinning direction onracew ay surface and rollingcontact surfaces

Smearing and Scuffing The surface becomes rough andsome small deposits form.Scuff ing generally refers toroughness on the race collar andthe ends of the rollers

WearThe surfaces w ear anddimensional deformation results.Wear is often accompanied byroughness and scratches

Speckles and DiscolorationLuster of racew ay surfaces isgone; surface is matted, rough,and / or evenly dimpled. Surfacecovered w ith minute dents

Indentations / Dents and

ScratchesScoring during assembly, gougesdue to hard foreign objects, andsurface denting due tomechanical shock.

ChippingPartial chipping of inner ring,outer ring, or rolling elements.

Cracking and NotchingLocalized f laking occurs. Littlecracks or notches appear

Rust and CorrosionThe surface becomes eitherpartially or fully rusted, andoccasionally rust even occursalong the rolling element pitchlines

Seizing / SeizureThe bearing heats up andbecomes discolored. Eventuallythe bearing w ill seize up

Fretting and Fretting

CorrosionThere are tw o types of fretting.In one, a rusty w ear pow derforms on the mating surfaces. Inthe other, brinelling indentationsform on the racew ay at the

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12/8/13 Bearing Failure Analysis, Bearing Spalling, Bearing Flaking & Peeling, Bearing Smearing & Scuffing, Bearing Wear, Bearing Seizure, Retainer Cage Da…

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form on the racew ay at therolling element pitch

Electrical Pitting / Electrolytic

CorrosionPits form on the racew ay. Thepits gradually grow into ripples.

Rolling Path SkewingAbrasion or an irregular, rollingpath skew ing left by rollingelements along racew aysurfaces

Damage to Retainers /

Cage DamageRivets break or become looseresulting in cage damage.

CreepingSurface becomes mirrored bysliding of inside and outsidediameter surfaces. May byaccompanied by discoloration orscore

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