The Anatomy of Angular Contact Bearings

GMN Bearing USA’s ABEC 7 high precision ball bearings are made for high speed and heavy load applications.

GMN angular contact bearings (spindle bearings) are expertly crafted for speed, precision, & accuracy.

GMN radial ball bearings are versatile, great in small spaces & when axial loads move in both directions.

We know that not every application requires super, high-precision bearings. We stock other industrial parts from quality brands.

Our one-way sprag clutches are great for applications with low to high torque capacity.

Includes built-in ball bearing support. Supports HEAVY loads & has a high torque capacity: 53 to 588 Nm. Bore (ID) sizes: 10 to 60 mm (0.393 to 2.362 in)

Includes built-in ball bearing support. Supports MEDIUM loads & low to medium torque capacity: 53 to 267 Nm. Bore (ID) sizes: 17 to 40 mm (0.669 to 1.57 in)

No built-in ball bearing support. Good for large orders & low to high torque needs: 1 to 2673 Nm. Bore (ID) sizes: 2 to 240 mm (0.078 to 9.448 in)

No built-in ball bearing support. Has no RPM limits & Supports high torque needs: 609 to 14,060 Nm. Bore (ID) sizes: 38.09 to 220 mm (1.499 to 8.66 in)

This heavy-duty clutch (aka a hold-back clutch) is good for high torque operations and ensures motion freezes in place. Bore (ID) sizes: 15 to 40 mm. (0.59 to 1.73 in)

Designed for HEAVY-DUTY applications that require tough durability.

Our non-contact labyrinth seals are the first line of protection for bearing systems.

The best protection for your bearing. Easy to install with a simple “drop-in” next to your bearing. No added space needed. CF seals offer 100% sealing efficiency against splashing liquids.

Protection against low contamination & splashing liquids.

Designed with grooves in the outer ring to offer more protection (than our L-type seal) against contamination and direct spray liquids. Liquid gets pushed out through outer grooves when in rotation.

Our GMN Gap Seals are plastic and a great choice for washdown applications, such as food conveyors and food manufacturing facilities

Manufacturing standards and the design of angular contact bearings are what enable them to function at a high level of precision.

In this article, we’ll describe the main characteristics of angular contact bearings and what makes them unique and a good choice for precision machinery.

Contact Angles

The first noticeable difference you’ll see is that it has only one high shoulder on the outer ring. This design allows the angular contact bearing to have a high load capacity. This high shoulder also creates two intersecting lines, which form the contact angle of the bearing. Standard contact angles are usually 15° and 25° (compared to 8° on radial bearings).

The contact angle allows the bearing to also support higher loads as well as faster speeds. Typically, the 15° contact angle supports faster speeds than the 25° contact angle

Parts & Material of an Angular Contact Bearing

There are three main parts that make up the angular contact bearing they are the rings, cage, and ball material.

Below is a description of each component and the material used when it’s manufactured. Note: Other material options are available depending on your manufacturer. If you are ordering GMN angular contact bearings, contact us if you need a different material that isn’t listed here.

One: Bearing Rings (a.k.a. Bearing Races oe Bearing Raceway)

Our bearing rings are manufactured with 52100 vacuum degassed chrome steel (100Cr6) and are heat stabilized for temperatures up to 302°F (150°C).

An additional heat treatment can be performed for working temperatures up to 572°F (300°C). For working temperatures above 572°F (300°C), we manufacture the rings with high temperature tool steel.

Two: Bearing Cage

A standard TA cage made from phenolic resin with fine mesh cotton webbing allows operating temperatures of 248°F (120°C).

TXM (PEEK) cages are available on request and provide an optimized performance over the TA cages.

Here are some benefits of selecting a TXM cage:

Made with PEEK and that is lighter than the TA cage material
Great for grease lubrication vs the TA cage is best for oil lubrication

Three: Ball Bearing Material

Here are the two common options for ball material:

52100 vacuum degassed chrome steel (100Cr6), commonly referred to as bearing steel
Ceramic, Silicon Nitride (Si3N4) which can operate at faster speeds and has lower rolling friction. Read all about the benefits of ceramic ball material.

Understanding Precision

Understand the differences between angular contact bearings and radial bearings to select the right bearing for your application’s needs.

Once you understand those ball-bearing differences, you can see how these angular contact bearing characteristics really set them apart and allow them to carry heavy loads at high speeds.

Contact us and let us know if you have any questions or if you’d like pricing and availability for your next ball bearing project.