Flanged inch-sized miniature bearings have a solid steel flange on the outer ring. This flange serves two main purposes: first, it makes installing the bearing in a housing easier, and second, it prevents the bearing from axial movement if there's a thrust load.
Learn more about radial and thrust forces in bearings here.
When there's vibration in the housing, keeping the bearing in place can be difficult. But because of their design, flanged bearings are more stable in such situations.
Flanged bearings are especially helpful when the housing material expands more than the bearing's outer ring does at high temperatures. This difference in expansion rates could cause non-flanged bearings to become loose in the housing, allowing excess movement. In contrast, the flanged design ensures a snug fit, even when temperatures change, which means they perform reliably in various operating conditions
Stainless steel flanged miniature bearings
Some of the very small, imperial flanged bearings are only available in stainless steel. This is because of their typical usage in low load, instrument applications.
Although the stainless steel version may cost slightly more, the price difference is insignificant because only a small amount of steel is needed for manufacturing.
If you're interested, you can explore our smallest imperial flanged miniature bearings on the dedicated Stainless Steel Flanged Miniature Bearing - Inch page.
Flanged chrome steel bearings
Flanged chrome steel bearings, equipped with a steel retainer and suitable lubricant can reliably operate at a constant temperature of 120°C or handle intermittent temperatures of up to 150°C. However, beyond these limits, the load capacity of chrome steel decreases, and the steel undergoes more noticeable dimensional changes compared to stainless steel.
Our range of chrome steel flanged inch-sized miniature bearings offer flexibility in design. They can be supplied as open bearings or with metal shields, and larger sizes are available with rubber or Teflon contact seals, or low-friction non-contact rubber seals.
Open bearings are pre-lubricated with light oil, while shielded or sealed variants typically come with grease lubrication.
In addition, we can provide shielded bearings with instrument oil for low-speed, low-friction applications. Customers can choose their preferred oils, greases, or dry lubricants at our relubrication facility for added flexibility. You can also
Characteristics
Chrome steel flanged bearings lack corrosion resistance, so manufacturers apply an oil layer to shield them from moisture. It's crucial not to use these bearings without lubrication (dry) because they're prone to corrosion. This risk applies during storage and shipping as well, where condensation within protective packaging can lead to corrosion.
Manufacturers typically make the standard cage or retainer for chrome steel flanged miniature bearings from a Steel Plate Cold Rolled Commercial (SPCC) steel strip. This type of steel is commonly used in industries where high-quality surface finishes and dimensional accuracy are required, like in automotive components, electrical appliances, and, as mentioned, in the construction of bearing cages or retainers.
Smaller and thinner bearings often feature a one-piece crown cage because of space constraints, while larger sizes utilise a two-piece ribbon cage.
Applications
Flanged chrome steel bearings are widely used in industries where withstanding high temperatures and bearing heavy loads are essential. They perform effectively in environments with moderate temperature fluctuations and are commonly employed in machinery and equipment that doesn't demand corrosion resistance.
These bearings are particularly suitable for applications with limited space, where a compact one-piece cage is necessary. In addition, they are capable of handling heavier loads that require a larger two-piece cage.
Click on INFO in the rows below to display technical drawings of the flanged bearings with load and speed data. Please note that we use the maximum loads and speeds in theoretical life calculations. We recommend using bearings at significantly less than the maximum load and speed ratings to ensure reasonable bearing life.
Got any further bearing questions? Get in touch with our experienced team today by emailing sales@smbbearings.com or fill in the contact form.
See product table below for dimensions and technical drawings.
See products variants below for stainless steel and non-flanged options:
