Bearing Basics

Basic Bearing Designation System

SKF Bearing Designations

Bearing Designations are of two types

Basic Designations
Supplementary Designations

SKF Bearing Designations

The basic designation identifies:
Product type
Standard design
Size

The supplementary designation identifies:

Alternative design (variants)
Bearing components
Types of special bearings

The Supplementary Designations identify

Alternative Designs ( Variants )

Bearing Components
Type of Special Bearing

Supplementary designation consists of

Prefixes
Suffixes

WidthandDiameterVariations

ISOStandards

ISO
International
Organization for
Standardization

Basic Designation for Metric Bearings

Consists of 5 digits
First digit denotes Bearing Type
Second digit denotes Width /
Height
Third digit denotes OD
Fourth & fifth digits denote ID

DiameterSeries

Relationship:DiameterandWidth
Series

DimensionSeries
Diameter Series
Width Series
Dimension Series
3
2
0

0
03
02
00

1
13

33

23

12
10

2
22
20

32
30

HowtheDesignationSystemWorks
Bearing types

Radial bearings, width (B, T)

Thrust bearing, height (H)

Outside diameter (D)

Bearing size d/5

(30 mm bore diameter)

BearingTypeDesignations:
CylindricalRollerBearings
NU

NJ

NUP

NU + HJ

NJ + HJ

BasicSeriesDesignations:
StandardInchSizeBearings

L
Bearing
type

L
Bearing
series

L
Bore
1/8s
of inch

Standard Inch Size Bearing Types

RLS

RMS

deep groove ball bearings

RL

RM

self-aligning ball bearings

ALS

AMS

angular contact ball bearings

CRL

CRM

cylindrical roller bearings

L: light series

M: medium series

Example : Inch Size Designations

RLS 10
RL 16

deep groove ball, d = 1 1/4, light

self-aligning ball, d = 2, light

ALS 40

angular contact ball, d = 5, light

CRM 24

cylindrical roller, d = 3, medium

O 20

thrust ball, d = 2 1/2

InchSizeTaperRollerBearings:
CupsandCones
Inch taper roller
bearings are designed
around roller & cage
assemblies, and belong to
families
: Basic design
(family)

SKF Bearing Designations

The supplementary designation identifies:
Variants deviations from standard design
Grouped into four categories
Added to basic designation in a specific order, where
more than one deviation applies

Categories of Supplementary Designations

Category 1 : Modified Internal Design
Category 2 : Modified External Design
Category 3 : Modified Cage Design
Category 4 : Modifications to enhance Performance

Category 1: Modified Internal Design

A

AC

BE

and combinations thereof such as

CA/CB/CC
CAC

D
E

EC

Category 1: Modified Internal Design

A : * Transitional Designation / changed after a period
e.g., 4210 A : DRDGBB without filling slot
* Contact Angle 300 in SRACBB
e.g., 7056 A
B : * Contact Angle 400 in SRACBB
e.g., 7210 B
* Steep Contact Angle in TRB
e.g., 32210 B

Category 1: Modified Internal Design

C : * Contact Angle 150 in SRACBB
e.g., 7012 C
* SRB with loose Guide Flange , symmetrical
rollers and pressed steel cage of window design
AC :* Contact Angle 250 in SRACBB
e.g., 7210 AC
D :* DRACBB with two part Inner Ring and
Contact Angle of 450

Category 1: Modified Internal Design

E : * Larger ball or Roller diameter
e.g., 29320 E
CA :* SRB with loose guide ring but two integral flanges
with machined brass cage e.g., 23180 CA/W33
* ACBB for universal mounting with low axial
clearance when mounted in pair
CAC :* SRB of CA design but with improved roller
guidence

Category 1: Modified Internal Design

CB : * ACBB for universal mounting with axial
clearance larger than CA when mounted in pair
CC :* ACBB for universal mounting with axial
clearance larger than CB when mounted in pair
* SRB of C design but with improved roller
guidance
EC : * Single Row CRB with a greater number of
larger rollers than the original design, and
increased axial load carrying capacity in
Flanged executions
e.g., NU 320 EC / NJ 320 EC

Category 1: Modified Internal Design

GA : * ACBB for universal mounting with light
preload when mounted in pair
GB

:* ACBB for universal mounting with axial

preload larger than GA when mounted in pair

GC : * ACBB for universal mounting with axial

preload larger than GB when mounted in pair

Category 2: Modified External Design

K
K 30
N
N1
N2
N4
N6
NR

:
:
:
:
:

*
*
*
*
*

Tapered Bore ( Taper 1 : 12 )

Tapered Bore ( Taper 1 : 30 )
Snap ring groove on bearing outer diameter
One locating slot on outside edge of outer ring
Two diametrically opposite locating slots on
outside edge of outer ring
: * N + N2. Locating slots on side opposite to
snap ring groove
: * N + N2. Locating slots on same side as snap
ring groove
: * Snap ring groove on bearing outer diameter
along with an appropriate snap ring

Category 2: Modified External Design

Tapered Bore Suffixes
Suffix K

Taper 1:12
Suffix K30

Taper 1:30

Category 2: Modified External Design

P
PR

: * SRB with two part outer ring

: * SRB with two part outer ring, with calibrated
spacer in between
R
: * Integral flange on outer ring outer diameter
- RS : * NRB fitted with synthetic rubber seal on
one side
- 2RS : * NRB fitted with synthetic rubber seals on
two sides
- RS1 : * Rubbing seal of synthetic rubber with sheet
steel reinforcement fitted on one side
- 2RS1 : * Rubbing seal of synthetic rubber with sheet
steel reinforcement fitted on both sides

Category 2: Modified External Design

-RS2 : * Rubbing seal consisting of sheet steel washer
with vulcanized rubber fitted on one side
- 2RS1 : * Rubbing seal consisting of sheet steel washer
with vulcanized rubber fitted on both sides
-RZ : * Ball bearing with low friction seal consisting
of sheet steel washer with vulcanized rubber
fitted on one side
-2RZ : * Ball bearing with low friction seal consisting
of sheet steel washer with vulcanized rubber
fitted on both sides

Category 2: Modified External Design

X

: * One or more of bearing external dimensions

altered to fully comply with ISO standards

-Z

: * Metallic non-rubbing seal fitted on one side

- 2Z

: * Metallic non-rubbing seal fitted on both sides

Suffixes: Seals and Shields

2Z

RZ

2RZ

RS1

2RS1

NR

Category 3: Modified Cage Design

F
FA
FB
FE
H
J
JA
JE
L
LA
LB

:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

Machined Steel or SG Iron cage

F Cage centred on outer ring
F Cage centred on inner ring
Machined Steel Cage phosphated
Pressed cage of hardened sheet steel
Pressed cage of unhardened sheet steel
J Cage centred on outer ring
J Cage phosphated
Machined light alloy cage
L Cage centred on outer ring
L Cage centred on inner ring

Category 3: Modified Cage Design

CageTypes

Category 3: Modified Cage Design

M
MA
MB
MP
P
TN
Y
V

:
:
:
:
:

*
*
*
*
*

Machined Brass cage

M Cage centred on outer ring
M Cage centred on inner ring
M Cage window type
Moulded cage made of glass fibre reinforced
polyamide 6.6
: * Moulded cage made of plastic
: * Pressed Brass cage
: * Full complement bearing ( without cage )

Category 4: Modifications to enhance Performance

/CL7A : * Standard SKF quality for Pinion Bearings
/CL7C : * Special SKF quality for Pinion Bearings
/CN

: * Normal internal clearance. This usually used

followed by H/M/L/P to denote part or
displaced range e.g.:
CNH
: * Upper half of Normal
CNM
: * Two middle quarters of Normal
CNL
: * Lower half of Normal
CNP
: * Upper half of Normal &
Lower half of C3

Category 4: Modifications to enhance Performance

/C1
/C2
/C3
/C4
/C5

:
:
:
:
:

*
*
*
*
*

Internal clearance less than C2

Internal clearance less than Normal
Internal clearance more than Normal
Internal clearance more than C3
Internal clearance more than C4
A letter H/M/L/P following the clearance
designation denotes part or displaced range.

/C01
/C02

: * Reduced tolerance for running accuracy of I/R

: * Extra reduced tolerance for running accuracy
of I/R : less than C01

Category 4: Modifications to Enhance

Performance Suffix Range for Internal Clearances
Radial internal
clearance

C1 clearance less than C2

C2 clearance less than Normal
C3 clearance greater than Normal
C4 clearance greater than C3
C5 clearance greater than C4

Axial internal
clearance

Category 4: Modifications to enhance Performance

/C03
/C04

: * Reduced tolerance for running accuracy of O/R

: * Extra reduced tolerance for running accuracy
of O/R : less than C03

/C05
/C06
/C05
/C06

:
:
:
:

/C10

: * Reduced tolerance for bore & OD. In case of

tapered bore, refers to only OD.
: * Bore diameter tolerance less than C10

/C20

*
*
*
*

C01 + C03
C02 + C03
C01 + C04
C02 + C04

Category 4: Modifications to enhance Performance

/C30
/C40
/C50

: * Reduced bore diameter tolerance, towards

standard minimum limit.
: * OD tolerance less than C10
: * Reduced OD tolerance, towards standard
minimum limit.

/C60
/C70
/C80

: * C20 + C50
: * C20 + C40
: * Reduced height tolerance for thrust bearings

/C15
/C18
/C78

: * C10 + C05
: * C10 + C08
: * C70 + C08

Category 4: Modifications to enhance Performance

/DB
/DF
/DT
/HA

: * Two single row DGBB/ACBB/TRB, paired

for mounting in back-to-back arrangement.
: * Two single row DGBB/ACBB/TRB, paired
for mounting in face-to-face arrangement.
: * Two single row DGBB/ACBB/TRB, paired
for mounting in tandem
: * Case hardened bearing or bearing components.
For closer identification, it is followed by one of
following numbers : 0/1/2/3/4/5/6/7 e.g.,
1 Both rings
2 Outer ring
5 Rolling elements etc.

Category 4: Modifications to enhance Performance

/HT

: * Bearing supplied with High Temperature

( upto +1300 C) grease
/LHT : * Bearing supplied with Low as well as High
Temperature ( -40 to +1400 C) grease
/LT : * Bearing supplied with Low Temperature
( upto -500 C) grease
/MT : * Bearing supplied with Medium Temperature
( -30 to +1100 C) grease

Category 4: Modifications to enhance Performance

/P4

: * Dimensional and running accuracy to ISO

tolerance class 4.
/P4A : * Dimensional accuracy to ISO tolerance class 4
and and running accuracy to AFBMA class 9.
/P5
: * Dimensional and running accuracy to ISO
tolerance class 5 ( More accurate than P6).
/P6
: * Dimensional and running accuracy to ISO
tolerance class 6.
/P43 : * P4 + C3
/P52 : * P5 + C2
/P62 : * P6 + C2
/PA9 : * Dimensional and running accuracy to AFBMA
class 9.

Category 4: Modifications to enhance Performance

/SP
/S0
/S1
/S2
/S3
/S4

: * Special Precision, dimensional accuracy approx.

corresponding to P5 and running accuracy
approx. to P4
: * Bearing ring dimensionally stabilized to optg.
temperatures upto + 1500C
: * Bearing ring dimensionally stabilized to optg.
temperatures upto + 2000C
: * Bearing ring dimensionally stabilized to optg.
temperatures upto + 2500C
: * Bearing ring dimensionally stabilized to optg.
temperatures upto + 3000C
: * Bearing ring dimensionally stabilized to optg.
temperatures upto + 3500C

Category 4: Modifications to enhance Performance

/UP

: * Ultra Precision, dimensional accuracy approx.

corresponding to P4 and running accuracy
better than P4
/W20 : * Three lubrication holes in outer ring
/W33 : * Lubricating groove and three lubrication holes
in outer ring
/Vxxxx: * V plus a second letter followed by a three figure
number denoting variants not covered by
logical supplementary designations. e.g:
VA 201 : Bearings for Kiln Trucks
VA 301 : Bearings for Traction Motors

Category 4: Modifications to Enhance

Performance
Tolerance
ISO

Tolerance
ABEC

Tolerance
SKF

Tolerance
RHP / NSK

P0

Normal

P0

P6

P6

P6

P5

P5

P5

P4

SP
P4A

P4

P2

UP
PA9A

P2

SKF Bearing Designations

The sequence of writing the designations:
Prefix if any
Basic designation
Supplementary designation of category 1
Supplementary designation of category 2
Supplementary designation of category 3
Stroke
Supplementary designation of category 4

SKF Bearing Designations

SKF Bearing Designations

The sequence of writing the designations:
Where two suffixes follow one another, the first ending
with a figure and the second starting with one, a stroke
is to be used
e.g: 6310 / C4/ 630251
Where a suffix for a divided clearence range is followed
by a suffix for type of grease, a stroke is to be used
e.g : 6205-2Z/C2L/HT51 (C2L + HT51)
but : 6205-2Z/C2 LHT51 (C2 + LHT51)

Date Codes
The Year Letter to be marked on a bearing or a bearing accessory shall
comprise a single letter in accordance with the table below
Letter Year

Year

Year

Year

Letter Year

Year

Year

Year

A
B
C

1910
1911
1912

1934
1935
1936

1958
1959
1960

1981
1982
1983

N
O
P

1922
1923
1924

1946
1947
1948

1970
1971
1972

1993
1994
1995

D
E
F

1913
1914
1915

1937
1938
1939

1961
1962
1963

1984
1985
1986

R
S
T

1925
1926
1927

1949
1950
1951

1973
1974
1975

1996
1997
1998

G
E
J

1916
1917
1918

1940
1941
1942

1964
1965
1966

1987
1988
1989

U
V
W

1928
1929
1930

1952
1953
1954

1976

1977

1999

2000

K
L
M

1919
1920
1921

1943
1944
1945

1967
1968
1969

1990
1991
1992

X
Y
Z

1931
1932
1933

1955
1956
1957

1978
1979
1980

2001
2002
2003