Deep groove ball bearings consist of a number of curved, ring-shaped outer raceways, or races. As these are made from rolled steel they have a very smooth surface and high accuracy. They can therefore be produced as both split and non-split bearings. In the assembly process, the bearing rings are inserted into an inner ring which is then placed in a housing to form a unit that fits easily into any device. Deep groove ball bearings offer more resilience against axial forces than cylindrical roller bearings with equivalent dimensions because their outer rings have a larger diameter for a given radial dimension.
Deep Groove Ball Bearings come with an open design, shielded on both sides with rubber seals protecting the grease inside from dust and moisture which otherwise could destroy the bearing. Closed type bearings are also available for very dirty or contaminated applications.
Closed Deep Groove Ball Bearings have an advantage over Open Deep Groove ball bearings because they protect the rolling elements and retain grease and lubricant inside the bearing. This enhances their service life and speeds up maintenance, as no relubrication is required after the initial filling of grease at assembly. Furthermore, open deep groove ball bearings constitute the largest group of deep groove ball bearings. They consist of a pair of machined rings with small gaps between them to form raceways for balls which are held in place by retainer rings usually made of brass, steel, or plastic. The open design means that some debris can enter into the bearing but it does allow easy access should the bearings need to be serviced or replaced. Open deep groove ball bearings are used in applications where radial internal clearance, moderate speeds, and misalignment capability is required as well as open (IP6X) and shielded (IP2X) arrangements. Typical examples of open deep groove ball bearings include non-contact seals on the outer ring to keep out dirt and other contaminants. Deep Groove Ball Bearings with rubber seals on both sides and special shields made of plastics and other materials that fully or partially enclose the bearing provide IP67 protection from liquid and solid particles as well as protect against other media such as coolant. They can even work under low-pressure water jet conditions at depths up to 100 m.
Finding the right bearings for your application is easy — so long as you know where to look. There are many online retailers and bearing online suppliers specialising in supplying all types of bearings from leading brands. Quality is obviously important, so be sure to do your homework and only buy from reputable manufacturers or retailers. The best ones will be able to offer you advice on the right solutions for your component, and their knowledge will set them apart from competitors.