Super Precision

Bearings for Machine Tools

Outstanding speed, rigidity, and precision deliver improved machine tool

performance while reducing energy loss and placing less burden on the
global environment.
 NSK’s key technologies meet the
demand for high performance
precision bearings and Analysis Technology

environmental preservation. NSK developed its own software, Bearing

Analysis In NSK (BRAIN), which enables
digital simulations of friction-related
movement and performance by applying
Tribology, the study of friction and wear, is a core NSK technology that not only saves energy and tribology. The combined use of this
simulation data with a finite element method
resources by decreasing friction and wear on machines, but also prevents machine malfunction (FEM) leads to the realization of advanced
and thereby improves reliability. NSK has established four key technologies around this central computer-aided engineering (CAE).

expertise as the foundation for developing environmentally sound products. These are: analysis
technology toward comprehensively reducing energy loss; evaluation technology for precisely
meeting market needs; lubrication technology for reducing energy loss and making higher
Evaluation Technology
performance compatible goals and material technology to extend product life.
NSK has established an evaluation
technology that spans a wide range of
applications by employing advanced
technologies such as nano-order runout
measurement using ultrahigh-precision
measuring instruments. Our evaluation
technology contributes to the development
of cutting-edge products that correspond
with increasingly sophisticated market
needs.

Lubrication Technology
Through the relentless application of
tribology, NSK’s key technology, NSK has
pursued lubrication technologies that allow
machines to deliver maximum performance.
NSK’s accomplishments in these efforts
contribute to saving energy and resources,
thereby conserving the global environment.

Material Technology

Research and development across a

wide range of material technologies has
been conducted to produce ever-higher
performing products. Products made of
NSK’s proprietary materials deliver long life
under harsh conditions, are maintenance-
free and support various applications
throughout many industries.

1 2
 Machining Center Bearings (Grease Lubrication)

Eco-friendly lubrication that achieves the

same high-speed region as oil-air lubrication
NSK’s grease technology supports speeds that are normally only possible with oil-air lubrication systems. These
high performance, energy-saving machining center bearings also exhibit outstanding noise reduction.

High-Speed, High Precision Sealed Grease Replenishing System

Angular Contact Ball Bearings for High-Speed Grease Lubrication Spindles
—ROBUST Wide Series New automatic lubrication system converts conventional oil lubrication methods for high-speed spindles.
NSK improves machine tool reliability by providing higher performance
Features Cross-section of Housing
and greater durability. This series of bearings further provides excellent spindle
Replenishing
support towards a clean working environment and saving energy. 1. High-speed performance grease

Durability comparison between and long life ensured with Storage groove
Features open bearing and bearing with seal grease lubrication. for discharging
grease
2. Capable of providing Space for
1. Longer life when Open ROBUST discharging
Series more than 10 000 grease
using grease
maintenance-free hours.
lubrication Sealed-type
ROBUST 3. Environmentally sound,
2. Low-heat generation Series

Sealed-type
low-noise bearing saves
3. High reliability and ROBUST Wide energy. High-speed angular
Series
shorter assembly contact ball bearing

process time 0 2 000 4 000 6 000 8 000 10 000 12 000 14 000 16 000 18 000
Grease durability, h
NSK test data Structure for Feeding Grease to Bearings
Test Conditions:
Bore diameter of bearing: 65 mm; Ceramic ball specification;
Rotation: 18 000 min-1 (dm n = 1 480 000); Lubrication: MTE grease

High Precision Angular Contact Ball Bearings

—Standard Series High-Speed Integrated Motor Spindle for Machining Centers
NSK’s basic series of precision angular contact ball bearings conforms to ISO Achieved 20 000 min-1 with ISO-40 equivalent taper using NSK’s automatic grease replenishing system.
specifications.
Features High-speed, integrated motor spindle
10 000-hour endurance evaluation
Features 25
1. Highest speed for NT#40 class Outer ring temperature of front side bearing
high-speed machining center using

Temperature rise, °C
20
1. Long life bearing steel (Z steel) used as standard material.
Z steel offers 1.8 times longer life when compared to standard SUJ2 bearing steel. grease-lubricated bearings 15

2. The 70 and 79 series are available in sealed form and offer 1.5 times greater 2. 10 000 maintenance-free hours are
10
grease durability. made possible by the NSK grease
replenishing system. 5
3. Two types of cages are available for specific bearing types.
3. Wide range of machining 0
performance from low to high 0 1 000 2 000 3 000 4 000 5 000 6 000 7 000 8 000 9 000 10 000

speeds Time, h

High Performance Double-Row Cylindrical Roller

Bearings—Low-Heat Generation NN-Z Series
New material and design for the bearing cage enhance machine tool performance. High Performance Grease Products (MTS, MTE, and
ENS) for Machine Tools
Features
n Grease features
1. High-speed performance and low-heat generation MTS: For high-speed rotation. Contains urea thickener and exhibits excellent heat
2. Longer life with grease lubrication resistance.
3. Low-heat generation series specifically for free-end bearings MTE: For high-speed rotation offers outstanding load capability.
ENS: Environmentally friendly due to its biodegradability.

NT#40 14 000 min-1 20 000 min-1

3 4
 Machining Center Bearings (Oil-Air Lubrication)

Oil-air lubrication reduces energy loss in

ultrahigh-speed applications
NSK machining center bearings facilitate high-speed rotation in ultrahigh-speed applications, which require extremely
reliable oil-air lubrication, while achieving environmental friendliness and energy conservation.

New Outer Ring Guided PPS Engineered Polymer Ultrahigh-Speed, High Precision
Cage (TS) for ROBUST Angular Contact Ball Bearings Angular Contact Ball Bearings
—ROBUST Series Spinshot™ II
Cage movement is controlled by the
Rotational Torque Comparison
bearing and achieves low torque during 9 In the quest to optimize oil supply, NSK has achieved
New Outer Ring Guided PPS
high-speed rotation, and new cage 8 unprecedented low-noise characteristics while reaching
Rotational torque, N·cm

Engineered Polymer Cage (TS) for

7 ROBUST Angular Ball Bearings
lowers energy loss. 6 Existing Outer Ring higher rotational speeds.
Guided Phenolic Cage
5
Features 4 Features
3
2
Compared with existing phenolic 1 1. Achieves 40 000 min-1 with ISO-40 equivalent taper
cages: 0 using oil-air lubrication.
0 5 000 10 000 15 000 20 000 25 000
1. 20% less heat generation with low Speed, min-1 2. Noise levels reduced by 3 dB to 5 dB compared with
temperature rise conventional oil-air lubrication.
Test conditions:
2. 25% higher speeds Bearing: 70BNR10H 3. Achieves 40 000 min-1 with approximately half the air
Speed: 5 000–20 000 min-1
3. 50% decrease in cage runout Constant pressure preload: 1 000 N
volume of conventional oil-air lubrication.
Lubrication: Grease

Spinshot™ II Structure Diagram

Ultrahigh-Speed, High Precision Angular Contact Ball Temperature Rise of Front Side Bearing
Bearings—ROBUST Series

Temperature rise of outer ring, °C

30

25
These bearings integrate the pride of NSK Centrifugal force
Temperature Rise Comparison 20
material, evaluation, and analysis technologies Airflow
Temperature rise of outer ring, °C

30
15
into a highly functional series that supports New Outer Ring Guided PPS
Engineered Polymer Cage (TS) for
Surface tension
25 10
high performance machine tools. ROBUST Angular Ball Bearings
Oil drop
Existing Outer Ring Guided
20 5
Phenolic Cage

Features 15
0
0 10 000 20 000 30 000 40 000

Air pressure decreases at Speed, min-1

10 Oil particle
1. TS cage facilitates even lower heat separation point groove on circumference
generation and higher speed rotation. 0
0 5 000 10 000 15 000 20 000 25 000
Bearings used: 65BAXTD for front side; 558NXETD for rear side

2. X-type achieves high-speed Speed, min -1

performance and long life through the

use of SHX material, which delivers
outstanding resistance to heat and
wear.
3. Extensive lineup available for specific
applications
Ultrahigh-Speed Single Row Cylindrical Roller
Bearings—ROBUST Series
Test conditions:
Bearing: 70BNR10XDB
Lubrication: DTE Light oil (VG32)
Preload method: Position preload
Cooling: Non-cooling
Small Diameter, Ultrahigh-Speed, High Precision Angular Contact Ball Bearings
—ROBUST BGR Series
This highly functional series supports high performance of small
spindles with bore diameters of 30 mm or less, delivering high
precision and ultrahigh-speed rotation.
Features

This series achieves dm n
2 200 000 using highly heat-
resistant PEEK cage and
SHX material, which deliver
outstanding heat and wear
resistance.
1. Ultrahigh-speed bearings are specially designed for small
Features spindles.
1. Optimal design enabling low-heat generation. 2. X-type achieves high-speed performance and long life through
the use of SHX material with excellent heat and wear resistance.
2. Seizure-resistant performance improved
through use of SHX material. 3. Standardized for ISO Class 2.
3. Heat-resistant, highly rigid, PEEK engineered
polymer boosts speed.

Speed Ultrahigh-Speed Regions

5 6
 Lathe Bearings

Addressing environmental conservation while

maintaining both outstanding rigidity and
high-speed performance
High
Ultrahigh Precision Ceramic Angular
This lineup proves superior for reducing energy loss by restricting heat generation while achieving outstanding
Precision
Contact Ball Bearings—ROBUST Ultrahigh
rigidity and high speed. Ceramic ball type performance also generates less heat while delivering enhanced rigidity
Precision Specification P2X
and precise performance.
This series achieves the world’s highest rotational accuracy, exceeding
ISO Class 2 for high-precision processing of small lathes.

Features
Roller-Guided PPS Resin Cage (TB) with
Engineered Polymer 1. Ultrahigh rotational accuracy
2. NRRO value is guaranteed.
Use of high-strength engineered polymer L-PPS reduces deformation caused
3. Ceramic ball precision is significantly improved.
by centrifugal force and facilitates stable rotation in high-speed applications.
This is a long-life cage with low temperature rise.

Features FEM Analysis of Deformity

1. O
 ptimal roller-guided cage design
with consideration for strength and High High-Precision Thrust Angular Contact
friction
2. U
 se of high-strength engineered
Speed Ball Bearings—ROBUST Series
polymer L-PPS facilitates
stable rotation in high-speed The ROBUST series features high-speed performance and low heat
applications.
generation without compromising rigidity.
3. A
 chieves longer life with grease
lubrication in comparison with that Features
of metal cages.
BTR with contact angle 40°: High thrust rigidity and low-heat
generation are compatible.
BAR with contact angle 30°: Greater emphasis on high speed than
BTR

High
Highly Functional, Double-Row
Rigidity
Cylindrical Roller Bearings High High-Precision Thrust Angular Contact
—High Rigidity ROBUST TB Series Rigidity Ball Bearings—TAC-F Series
New material and cage design enhance machine tool
performance. A highly precise thrust angular contact ball bearing with priority placed
on rigidity at a contact angle of 50°.
Features

1. Achieves high-speed and low-heat generation.

2. Longer life possible with grease lubrication

Low-Heat Generation Comparison

Temperature rise with grease lubrication Limiting Speeds of ROBUST Series and TAC-F
30 Series with Grease Lubrication Axial Load and Axial Displacement of
Temperature rise of outer ring, °C

Metal cage MB copper alloy (when lightly preloaded) ROBUST Series and TAC-F Series
25 New engineered polymer TB (L-PPS)
25
100TAC20F °)

Axial displacement, µm
20 Bearing: NN3019 =30
20 (α 0
Lubrication: Grease NDB
TY
15 Bearing clearance: 0 µm 0S
R1
15 BA
100BTR10S 100 )
=40°
10 B (α 0
10 0ST YND
100BTR1 )
5 F (α0=50°
100BAR10S
5 100TAC20
Speed, Speed,
min-1 0 min-1
0 0 1 000 2 000 3 000 4 000 5 000 6 000 0
0 2 000 4 000 6 000 8 000 10 000 12 000 0 2 000 4 000 6 000 8 000 10 000
×104 d mn
×106 d m n 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 Axial load, N
0 0.6 1.2

7 8
 Ball Screw Support Bearings (Grease Lubrication)

Grease lubrication ensures durability and

reduces energy loss
Two types of bearings with reliable seals; light contact seals with superior dust proofing qualities or non-contact
seals that achieve low torque. Eco-friendliness is now achieved in the area of precision processing in which oil
lubrication is conventionally used to prevent fretting, by taking advantage of optimum grease or ceramic balls.

Sealed Angular Contact Thrust Bearings

Series for Ball Screw Support New Grease Specialized for Ball Screw Support Bearings—EA9
A sealed type series has been added to broaden this With low temperature rise and high fretting resistance,
product line with outstanding high performance and high this grease is suitable for higher precision processing. Low Temperature Rise Comparison
rigidity for ball screw support. 30

Fretting Evaluation Using Grease (48-hour endurance)

Features 25

Temperature rise, °C
20 AS2
1. Adopts long-life, highly reliable EP steel for triple the No
EA9 15
operating life over standard bearing steel. anomalies
EA9
2. Grease lubrication extends durability. 10

AS2 Wear detected

3. High rigidity achieved with an angular contact of 60°. 5

4. Light-contact seal achieves high dust resistance and 0

0 8 16 24 32 40 48 330 340 350 360 370 380 390 400 410 420 430 440 450
low temperature rise.
Evaluation time, h Evaluation time, min.

Evaluation conditions: Evaluation conditions:

Bearing: 35TAC72BDFDC1OPN7A; Bearing: 20TAC47BDFDC10PN7A; Grease quantity: 2 g (50% of space capacity);
Oscillating angle: 2.5°; One cycle: 0.4 seconds Maximum operating speed: 2 085 min-1

n Light-contact seal with dust-resistant characteristics boosts reliability

Adopts NSK’s proprietary light-contact seal focusing on high speed. Limited temperature rise ensures outstanding reliability.
Ball Screw Support Bearings Fretting Evaluation with Ball Materials
(400-hour endurance)
Ceramic Ball Specifications
Grease Leakage Comparison Comparison of Temperature Bearing Rise
Achieves low temperature rise using ceramic balls for ball screw Ceramic ball No
Temperature rise in outer ring, °C

50 30 anomalies
45 1 000 min-1 d m n = 47 000 support bearings. Also features excellent anti-fretting characteristics
40 25 2 000 min-1 d m n = 94 000 with a durability of more than 50 times that of steel balls.
Grease leakage, %

35 3 000 min-1 d m n = 141 000

20
30 Steel ball Wear detected in 8 hours.
25 15
20 Evaluation conditions:
15 10 Bearing: 35TAC72BDFDC10PN7A;
0 100 200 300 400

10 Grease: Alvania (AS2); Evaluation time, h

5 Oscillating angle: 2.5°;
5
One cycle: 0.4 seconds
0 0
Open type With light-contact seal Open type With light-contact seal
NSK test data NSK test data

Test conditions: Test conditions:

Bearing: f 30 x f 62 x 15 mm; Combination: DFD Bearing: f 30 x f 62 x 15 mm; Combination: DFD
Preload: 4 500 N temperature: room temperature; Speed: 3 000 m-1 Preload: 4 500 N; Temperature: room temperature
Ball Screw Support Bearings
n Extensive Lineup Ball Screw Support Unit
Improved ease of handling by incorporating ball screw support
bearings into unit.

Features

1. Designed with dustproofing characteristics to facilitate design of

ball screw support parts.
2. Easier to handle since the bearings are already mounted in the
housing.
Special lip shape
Open type DDG with light-contact seal V1V with non-contact seal

9 10
 Bearings for Rotary Axes (Grease Lubrication)

Specially designed angular contact ball bearings aid in

reducing energy loss for swiveling (rotary/tilt) spindle
heads and rotary/tilt tables used in machine tools
New bearing available for high-precision machine tools using multi-axis processing. Angular contact ball bearings
achieve high rigidity and low torque for swiveling spindle heads used in machine tools in which roller bearings were
previously used.

Low profile, Highly Accurate, Angular Contact Ball Bearings—ROBUST Slim Series n Rotational Runout Measurement

Specially designed angular contact ball bearings for swiveling

spindle heads and rotary/tilt tables used in machine tools.
These bearings allow for a high rotational accuracy found only
in bearings with high moment stiffness that is on a par with
crossed-roller bearings.

Features

1. Lower torque rotation is achieved with ball bearings.

2. Rotational runout of 0.5 µm or less achieved.
3. High moment stiffness is on a par with crossed-roller Conventional crossed-roller bearings Newly developed ROBUST Slim Series
bearings.
4. Thin cross-section profile is 35% thinner than that of a
standard angular contact ball bearing.

1.67 µm Rotational runout 0.38 µm

less than 1/3
Moment Stiffness Comparison

1.0

0.8
Rotational Torque Comparison (number of rotations 100 min-1)
Same size roller
Angle inclination, × 104 rad

10
0.6
9 Rotational runout measuring
8 equipment
7 Equivalent size roller
0.4
Torque, Nm

6
ROBUST Slim 5
BSRA 170
4 ROBUST Slim
0.2 3 BSRA 170
2
1
n BRSA Series (bore diameter: 130, 170, 220, 340 and 400 mm)
0.0 0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1 000
10 sec Boundary dimensions (mm) Basic load ratings (kN)
Moment, Nm Time fD
Bearing numbers Cr Cor fd
r (Basic (Basic static
d D B
(min.) dynamic load rating)
load rating) r r

B
BRSA130S DB 130 165 22 0.6 21.6 53.0
Eco-friendly Bearings with Seals r r

The ROBUST Slim series is packed with grease after cleaning and removing oil. BRSA170S DB 170 215 27 0.6 37.0 96.5
Production lead time is significantly shortened since the bearings can be mounted
into machines immediately after opening their packaging. In addition, use of grease BRSA220S DB 220 270 31 1.0 48.5 141.0
lubrication eliminates atomizing of oil that is generated in oil lubrication for an overall
cleaner work environment. BRSA340S DB 340 420 50 1.1 105.0 325.0

BRSA400S DB 400 500 62 1.1 149.0 480.0

11 12
 Bearing Components

Angular Contact Ball Bearings Angular Contact Thrust Bearings for Ball Screw Support

Rolling Rolling elements

Series Type Rings Cage
elements Ceramics
Rolling elements SUJ2
SUJ2 SUJ2 SUJ2
Ceramics Cage Polyamide 46 (TYN) Cage
Standard Seal (black)
SUJ2 Polyamide Ceramic ball Phenolic (TR)
SUJ2 Ceramics Nitrile rubber, SECC Polyamide
Phenolic type Brass
PPS (TS)
Rings Rolling elements Cage
S SUJ2 SUJ2 Rings Seal (brown)
Polyamide 46 (TYN) Ceramics
SUJ2EP Nitrile rubber, SECC SUJ2EP Polyamide 66
Rings ROBUST H SUJ2 Ceramics Phenolic (TR)
SUJ2
Seal PPS (TS)
SHX
SUJ2 Nitrile rubber, SECC
X SHX Ceramics

Cylindrical Roller Bearings Low-Profile Angular Contact Ball Bearings for Rotary/Tilt Applications

Seal
Cage
Nitrile rubber, SECC
PPS (TB)

Rolling elements Rings

SUJ2
SUJ2

n NN30

Rings Type Rings Rolling

elements Cage
SUJ2
Cage
Standard SUJ2 SUJ2 PPS (TB) Polyacetal

Rolling elements Rings Rolling elements Cage

SUJ2
SUJ2 SUJ2 Polyacetal

Cage
Rolling elements
PEEK (TP)
Ceramics
SHX n N10
SUJ2
Super Precision Bearings Catalog
Type Rings Rolling
Cage
elements NSK has compiled all the information it has accumulated about precision
RS SUJ2 SUJ2 bearings over the years into a single catalog. The catalog contains a
wealth of technical data regarding precision bearings as well as the
RX SHX SHX PEEK (TP) information required and key points for selecting bearings, precautions
Rings
for handling bearings during mounting, and so on. For details, please
SHX
SUJ2 RXH SHX Ceramics contact NSK or visit www.nsk.com to request this comprehensive Super
Precision Bearings catalog. CAT. No. E1254

13 14
CAT. No. E1257a 2010 C-3 Printed in Japan ©NSK Ltd. 2010