Explanationof

NSK new life calculationequation (NSK ABLE FORECASTER) introduces Fatigue load limit (Pu), which
does not cause flaking less than that, in additionto the load appliedto bearing, Contaminationfactor(ac ),
which indicatesthe level of contaminationfor lubricant, and Life adjustmentfactor (aNSK), which is
calculatedby consideringviscosityratio ( ) representingthe ratio between the viscosityof the lubricant
and necessaryviscositylubricatesbearing normally. It is shown as below.

where
Fatigue life, which considers Fatigue limit load of bearing material, Contaminationfactor and
viscosityof lubricantin additionto bearing load
However, in case that calculatedlife exceeds 200 000 hours, it is indicated"over 200 000"
Basic rating life with reliabilityof 90% calculatedfrom load condition
Reliabilityfactor
Life adjustmentfactor based on new life theory
However, this equation can not apply to followingoperating conditions
In case of very large load imposes to the bearing (More than Co or more than 50% of C)
In case of low speed rotation of the bearing, rotating speed is less than 20min-1
In case of exceedinglimitingspeed
In case of bearing temperatureexceeding130 C
In case of water intrudesto the bearing or lubricant(Roll neck bearing)
In case that the bearing is used under high vibration(Automotiveengine accessory)
In case that there is a large misalignmentbetween inner and outer rings
Bearingswith the occurrenceof abnormalitiessuch as wear, corrosion, or electricerosion
Operationsunder extremelypoor lubricationor very light loads

Explanationof aNSK
The aNSK adjustmentfactor of the NSK life calculationequation is defined as
a function of the load parameter
and the ac contaminationfactor, which reflectsboth contaminationlevels of
the lubricant, and includesthe lubrication
parameter (viscosityratio). A diagramusing the adjustmentfactor is
provided separatelyfor ball bearings and for roller
bearings.(Diagram below is an example of a diagramfor a ball bearing.) The
range of the adjustmentfactor is from 0.1 to as
much as 50. Especially, under ideal lubricatingconditions, the maximumvalue
(aNSK = 50) can be attained. In contrast,
under heavilycontaminatedconditions(ac = 0.05), then aNSK = 0.1.

However, in case that calculatedlife exceeds 200 000 hours, it is indicated"over 200 000"

L10 = basic rating life

a1 = life modificationfactor for reliability
aISO = life modificationfactor, based on a system approach of life calculation
However, this equation can not apply to followingoperating conditions
In case of very large load imposes to the bearing (More than C0 or more than 50% of C)
In case of very light load imposes to the bearing
In case of exceedinglimitingspeed
In case of water intrudesto the bearing or lubricant
Bearingswith the occurrenceof abnormalitiessuch as wear, corrosion, or electricerosion
In case that there is a large misalignmentbetween inner and outer rings
In case of very large and hard foreign debris intrudesto (Life is shorter than the calculationresult)
In case that viscositywhen drivingis 10% or less of necessarydynamic viscosity
Explanationof reliabilityfactor a1
Bearing fatigue life is defined as the basic rating life with a statisticalreliabilityof
90% (Basic rating life L10). Dependingon the machines in which the bearings are used, sometimesa
reliabilityhigher than 90% may be required. The life adjustmentfactor for reliability, a1, is listedin
followingtable:
It is possiblefor ABLE and ISO 281: 2007 to calculatebearing life up to 99% reliability.

Reliability%

NSK ABLE
forecasterrating
Life Lna

Reliability
Factor a1

90

L10a basic rating life

95

L5a

0.62

96

L4a

0.53

97

L3a

0.44

98

L2a

0.33

99

L1a

0.21

Reliability%

ISO281 modified
rating Life Lnm

Reliability
Factor a1

90

L10m basic rating life

95

L5m

0.64

96

L4m

0.55

97

L3m

0.47

98

L2m

0.37

99

L1m

0.25

99.2

L0.8m

0.22

99.4

0.19

Explanationof contaminationfactor ac
When foreign debris enters the bearing interiorduring operations, small dents are generatedon the
rolling
contact surface. Flaking occurs due to concentrationof stress at the peripheryof the dents. The NSK
life calculationequation (NSK ABLE Forecaster) divideslubricatingconditionsinto five stages to
determinethe contaminationfactor ac

ac
Guideline
of
definition

Extremely
clean

Clean

Normal

Contaminated

Heavily
contaminated

0.8

0.5

0.4 to 0.1

0.05

Filter control
less than 10m

Filter control
10m to 30m

Filter
control
30 to 100
m

Filter control over

100m; No filter
control under oil
bath and
circulatingoil
conditions

No filter control
with ingressof
foreign debris

Seal or Shield Seal or Shield

bearings for
bearings for
electric
electricmotor
Applicati motor or IT
Shield bearing
on
equipment
for railroad stock
Seal/Shield
bearing for
machine tools

General
usage
Hub Unit
for
automotive

Automotive
transmission
Reductiongear
Construction
machinery

Explanationof contaminationfactor ec
When the lubricantis contaminatedwith solid particles, permanent indentationsin the racewaycan be
generated
when these particlesare over rolled. At these indentations, local stress risers are generated, which will
lead to
reduced life of the rolling bearing. This life reduction due to contaminationin the lubricantfilm is
taken into account
by the contaminationfactor ec .
Guide valuesfor the contaminationfactor can be taken from from the followingtable, which shows
typical levels of contaminationfor
well lubricatedbearing.
In the case of severe contamination(ec 0), failure may be caused by wear, and the life of the
bearing can be far
below a calculatedmodified rating life.
Explanationof contaminationfactor

ec

Level of contamination

Dpw
Extremecleanliness
Particle size of the order of the lubricantfilm thickness;
laboratoryconditions
High cleanliness
Oil filtered through an extremelyfine filter; conditions
typical
of bearings greased for life and sealed

0.8

Normalcleanliness
Oil filtered through a fine filter; Conditionstypical of
bearings greased for life and shielded

0.6

Slight contamination
Slight contaminationof the lubricant

0.5

100mm

Dpw >= 100mm

0.6

0.9

0.5

0.8

0.3

0.6

0.8

0.6

0.4

Fac= axial load

where
Fr , Fa : Load appliedon bearing( N )
Frc , Fac : Theoreticallycalculatedload( N )
fw : Load factor
The valuesgiven in below table are usuallyused for the load factor fw
* Radial load and axial load, which are used in this program, are frc , and
Operatingcondition
Smooth operation
free from shock
Normal operation

fac respectively.
fw

Typicalapplications
Electric motors, machine tools, and air conditioners

1 to 1.2

Air blowers, compressors, elevators, Cranes, and paper

making machines

Operationaccompanied Constructionequipment, Crushers, Vibratingscreens, and

by shock and vibration rolling mills

1.2 to 1.5
1.5 to 3

Explanationof Bearing material/ Special specification

Heat treatment

Features

Application

SUJ2 steel

Standard bearing steel

Bearing in general

Dimensional
stabilization
treatment X26

Bearing steel that prevents dimensionalchanges

from occurring
under high-temperatureconditionsby stabilizing
materialstructure
with high-temperaturetempering. Operating
temperaturelower than 150oC.

High-temperature
operating condition

Dimensional
stabilization
treatment X28

Bearing steel that prevents dimensionalchanges

from occurring
under high-temperatureconditionsby stabilizing
materialstructure
with high-temperaturetempering. Operating
temperaturelower
than 200oC.

High temperature
operating condition

Dimensional
stabilization
treatment X29

Bearing steel that prevents dimensionalchanges

from occurring
under high-temperatureconditionsby stabilizing
materialstructure
with high-temperaturetempering. Operating
temperaturelower
than 250oC.

High temperature
operating condition

Dimensional
stabilization
treatment S11

Bearing steel that prevents dimensionalchanges

from occurring
under high-temperatureconditionsby stabilizing
materialstructure
with high-temperaturetempering. Operating
temperaturelower
than 200oC. Applicablefor sphericalroller
bearings only.

High temperature
operating condition

SUJ2EP Steel

Long-life bearing steel for clean environments.

Non-metallic
inclusions, which shorten bearing servicelife, are
much smaller in
size for this materialthan those of conventional
bearing steel (SUJ2).

Hub unit bearings, engine

accessory
bearings, bearings for
generalindustrial
machinery, and machine
tool spindle bearings

Long-life bearing steel that is heat-treated to

produce

Bearingsfor automotive

(Constructionmachine).

Carbonitriding
bearing steel
Hi-TF
Specification

Bearing steel that is carbonitridedto produce

materialsuperior to
TF steel, has longer life under contaminated
conditions, offers
greater resistanceto wear and seizure, and
provides greater cost
performance.

Bearingsfor automotive
differentialgears and
transmissions,
bearings for general
industrialmachinery
(construction
machinery), and rollneck
bearings for steel mills

Carbonitriding
bearing steel
Super-TF
Specification

Bearing steel that takes advantageof material

compositionand is
carbonitridedto produce materialsuperior to TF
steel and Hi-TF
steel, has longer life under contaminated
conditions, and offers
improved wear-resistance, seizure-resistance, and
heat
resistance.

Bearingsfor automotive
differentialgears and
transmissions,
and rollneckbearings for
steel mills

About calculationof sealed bearings.

Sealed bearing life (bearings with seals or shieldson both sides) is calculatedusing grease lubrication.
If operated using oil lubrication, please consult NSK for further information.