Spindle Ball Bearings

Radial bearings, also known as deep groove ball bearings, are specifically designed to bear loads primarily in the radial direction, which means perpendicular to the axis of rotation. While they can handle a certain degree of axial or thrust loads, they’re optimized for scenarios where the main load is radial. Examples of such applications include electric motors, conveyor rollers, and gearboxes. The key point here is that in a radial bearing, the line of action of the load passes through the balls and is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the bearing.

In contrast, angular contact bearings, often called spindle bearings, are designed to carry axial and radial loads simultaneously. This is achieved by having the raceways in the inner and outer rings displaced with respect to each other along the direction of the bearing axis. This unique construction allows the bearing to accommodate combined loads and manage higher axial loads depending on the contact angle. In fact, the larger the contact angle, the higher the axial load the bearing can sustain.

The line of action of the load in an angular contact bearing forms an angle with the plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation. This type of bearing is primarily used in applications where precision is essential, such as in high-speed machinery, spindle bearings in machine tools, and jet engines.

In essence, the distinction between radial and angular contact bearings lies in their application’s specific load and performance requirements. Radial bearings are best for handling primarily radial loads with some axial capacity, whereas angular contact bearings are equipped to manage both radial and axial loads at the same time.