Differences between deep groove ball bearings and angular contact ball bearings.

Sep 11, 2024

As two common rolling bearings, deep groove ball bearings and angular contact ball bearings each have unique characteristics and application scenarios.

1. Structural differences

1.1 Outer ring groove design

Deep groove ball bearings: Double shoulders are designed on both sides of the outer ring groove, which helps to enhance the bearing's load-bearing capacity and stability. At the same time, the curvature of the outer ring groove of deep groove ball bearings is relatively small, and the groove position is usually not in the center, but its specific value is not the main consideration during design.

Angular contact ball bearings: In contrast, the outer ring groove of angular contact ball bearings is generally designed with a single shoulder, and the curvature of the outer ring groove is often larger than that of deep groove ball bearings. In addition, the outer ring groove position of angular contact ball bearings is closely related to the degree of contact angle, which needs to be fully considered during design.

1.2. Contact angle

Deep groove ball bearings: When only radial loads are applied, the contact angle is zero. However, when deep groove ball bearings have a large radial clearance, they can exhibit performance similar to angular contact bearings, thereby bearing a certain axial load.

Angular contact ball bearings: There is a clear contact angle between the ring and the ball. The standard contact angles are usually 15°, 25° and 40°. The size of the contact angle directly affects the axial load capacity of the bearing. The larger the contact angle, the stronger the axial load capacity; conversely, the smaller the contact angle, the more conducive to high-speed rotation.

2. Performance characteristics

2.1. Load-bearing capacity

Deep groove ball bearings: Mainly bear radial loads but can also bear certain axial loads and combined loads. It has a simple structure and strong load-bearing capacity and is suitable for a variety of working conditions.

Angular contact ball bearings: In addition to being able to bear radial loads, they can also bear large axial loads. Especially in high-speed, high-precision rotation occasions, angular contact ball bearings perform particularly well.

2.2. Friction coefficient and limit speed

Deep groove ball bearings: Due to their structural design and material selection, deep groove ball bearings have a relatively small friction coefficient and, therefore, have a higher limit speed. It gives deep groove ball bearings a significant advantage in situations where high-speed rotation is required.

Angular contact ball bearings: Although the friction coefficient of angular contact ball bearings is also low, the limiting speed of angular contact ball bearings of the same size is usually higher than that of deep groove ball bearings, which is mainly due to its optimized contact angle and structural design.

3. Uses and Application Fields

3.1. Deep groove ball bearings

As the most common type of rolling bearings, deep groove ball bearings have a wide range of applications. They are often used to withstand radial forces, small axial forces, combined axial and radial loads and moment loads. Deep groove ball bearings play an indispensable role in many industries, such as steel and smelting, energy and power generation, railways and high-speed railways, motors, household appliances, internal combustion engines, vehicles, agricultural machinery, construction machinery, and engineering machinery.

3.2. Angular contact ball bearings

Angular contact ball bearings are more suitable for high-speed and high-precision rotation due to their unique performance characteristics. They are widely used in metallurgical equipment, mining machinery, engineering machinery, papermaking machinery, wind turbines, semiconductors, machine tools, gear devices, electric motors (motors), pumps and compressors, injection molding machines, motorcycles, and other fields. In these fields, the high precision and high-speed performance of angular contact ball bearings have been fully utilized.

4. Installation and maintenance

4.1. Installation

Deep groove ball bearings: Due to their relatively simple structure and strong load-bearing capacity, the installation process of deep groove ball bearings is relatively simple. However, during the installation process, it is still necessary to keep the bearings clean and install them in the correct direction to avoid damaging the bearings.

Angular contact ball bearings: The installation of angular contact ball bearings requires more precision and caution. During installation, equal pressure must be applied on the circumference of the ring end face to press the ring in to avoid damaging the bearing. At the same time, it is also necessary to pay attention to adjusting the bearing clearance to ensure its normal operation.

4.2. Maintenance

Both deep groove ball bearings and angular contact ball bearings require regular maintenance and care to ensure their normal operation. The maintenance content mainly includes cleaning the bearings, checking the clearance, changing the lubricating oil, etc. During the maintenance process, it is necessary to avoid using improper tools and methods to avoid damaging the bearings.

In summary, there are significant differences between deep groove ball bearings and angular contact ball bearings in terms of structure, performance, use, installation and maintenance. Deep groove ball bearings are widely used in various working conditions due to their simple structure, strong load-bearing capacity and wide range of applications, while angular contact ball bearings have unique advantages in high-speed and high-precision rotation situations due to their high precision, high-speed performance and excellent axial load capacity. In practical applications, the appropriate bearing type should be selected according to specific working conditions and requirements to ensure the normal operation of the equipment and extend its service life.