Bearing Applications: Where Rolling and Plain Bearings Are Used

A bearing is a machine element that supports a shaft, axle or other moving part and reduces friction between mating surfaces. It allows mechanisms to rotate or move more smoothly, reduces wear and helps carry radial, axial or combined loads.

Bearing applications cover almost every area of machinery: electric motors, pumps, gearboxes, vehicles, railway equipment, machine tools, household appliances, agricultural machines, construction equipment and industrial production lines. The correct bearing type is chosen according to load, speed, temperature, lubrication, contamination, required service life and available space.

Bearing Types and Kinds

By operating principle, bearings are usually divided into two large groups: rolling bearings and plain bearings. Rolling bearings use rolling elements between the rings: balls, cylindrical rollers, needle rollers, tapered rollers or other shapes. In plain bearings, the shaft or moving part slides against a bushing, liner or guide surface, while friction is reduced by the bearing material and lubrication.

Bearings are also classified by load direction. Radial bearings mainly carry loads across the shaft axis, thrust bearings carry axial loads, and angular-contact or combined designs can carry both. In real mechanisms, the bearing name alone is not enough: construction, material, fit, accuracy class, sealing and lubrication conditions also matter.

Application of Rolling Bearings

Rolling bearings are used where low friction torque, stable rotation and easy replacement of a standard unit are important. Ball bearings are common at moderate loads and higher speeds. Roller bearings are selected for higher radial loads, while tapered roller bearings can carry radial and axial forces at the same time. Needle roller bearings are useful in compact mechanisms with limited radial space.

Main applications of rolling bearings include:

• Electric motors, generators, fans and pumps, where smooth rotation, service life and vibration control are important.
• Cars, trailers, agricultural machinery and construction equipment, including hubs, gearboxes, drives, rollers and auxiliary units.
• Machine tools, conveyors and industrial equipment, where bearings support spindles, shafts, drums, rollers and gear units.
• Household appliances and power tools such as washing machines, vacuum cleaners, drills, grinders, kitchen appliances and small electric drives.
• Metallurgy, mining equipment and heavy machinery, where designs are selected for high loads, contamination, vibration and elevated temperatures.

Application of Plain Bearings

Plain bearings have a simple construction: usually a bushing, liner or bearing surface on which the shaft or another part slides. They can be compact, carry high loads at low speeds, withstand shock loads and work in conditions where a rolling bearing is harder to protect from contamination. Suitable lubrication is often required, although self-lubricating materials are also used.

Typical applications of plain bearings include:

• Bushings, hinges and pins in construction, road and agricultural machinery.
• Sliding shaft supports, machine-tool guides, linear movement systems and compact assemblies.
• Engines, compressors, turbines and heavy industrial units where liners and hydrodynamic lubrication are used.
• Mechanisms operating at low speeds, high loads, vibration or periodic shock loads.
• Assemblies where simple construction, maintainability and resistance to dirty environments are important.

How to Choose a Bearing for a Mechanism

When selecting a bearing, engineers consider the type of motion, magnitude and direction of load, rotational speed, operating temperature, shock loads, accuracy requirements, lubrication and maintenance conditions. Rolling bearings are often chosen for standard rotating assemblies with low friction and predictable service life. Plain bearings are used where compactness, high load capacity, shock resistance or a simple construction is more important.

That is why the question of where bearings are used cannot be reduced to one industry. Bearings are used in almost every mechanism where moving parts must be supported while friction, wear and load are controlled.