I have had some experience with bearings in the past. There are many different types of bearings. (IE-ball, taper, single, double, needle, shielded, clutch, lock, slip,) to name a few.  They come in different sizes, Length, inside and outside diameters, as well as materials.  All manufactures have there on bearing numbers but most are ASA or Metric.  Try going to a Powertransmission store, they can give you catalogs on different types and sizes. Try this site www.powertransmission.com/ Good Luck

I have had some experience with bearings in the past. There are many different types of bearings. (IE-ball, taper, single, double, needle, shielded, clutch, lock, slip,) to name a few.  They come in different sizes, Length, inside and outside diameters, as well as materials.  All manufactures have there on bearing numbers but most are ASA or Metric.  Try going to a Powertransmission store, they can give you catalogs on different types and sizes. Try this site www.powertransmission.com/ Good Luck

Bearings are classified. You can find charts in all good design books.

Most used bearings are manufactured by SNR and SKF (worldwide leader me think)

SKF offers an online catalogue that you may see at that address : http://www.skf.com

SNR ownes a website too : http://www.snr.fr/GB/GBPAGES/SOMBASE.HTM

I don't think they got any online catalog there, but you may ask them in the contact section.

Hope it may help.

If needed, you can email me.

FrenchCAD
Université Joseph FOURIER
Département Génie Mécanique
Grenoble - France
cyril.guichard@wanadoo.fr

There is an ABEC classification for bearings.  ABEC 1, ABEC 3, ABEC 5.  I think this just governs the tolerances that the bearings are built to rather than the type.  Ask a kid on rollerblades or on a skateboard!  They know all about the bearings in their skates and their classifications!

There is a international standard for bearings. For cup needle roller bearings it is ISO 3245-1974, and for needle roller bearings it is ISO 1206-1982 and ISO 15-1981.
These norms are about the dimensions.

Like French said, SKF is one of the world leaders, try to get a hold of a general catalogue and you will find most types. There is a description of the ISO Dimension plans and the coding contains the Diameter series, the dimension series and the width series.

Most Manufactures will have a coding system close to SKF, and every good shop has cross reference books for interchangebility of brands.

Steven van Els
SAvanEls@cq-link.sr

Yes, the bearings are pretty good standardized, as mentioned above. If you look for roller or needle bearings, then the catalogs from Torrington (USA) or INA (Germany) can be also usefull. Do not forget other companies - NSK (Japan) and many others. But the classic one is the SKF. All of these companies operate world-wide.
gearguru

Yes,
There are classifications and many type of bearings,
Tapered Roller Bearings, Ball Bearings, Conrad style
Ball Bearings, Needle Bearings and these are often
further divided into thrust bearing, radial bearings,
or combination bearings which handle both thrust, radial
an momemt loads.  Some are slim line types with very
thin cross sections, and others are heavy duty and may
have bolt holes drilled in them to mount them, some are
pressed on a shaft.  Probably more information than
you need.

Bearing Inc. puts out a catalogue and has many of
the different companies products.  They also have
listed products which supplement bearings like pinions, belts, timing belts, collars, grease, etc.
If you look in Thomas Register, you will also find different types listed there.
i.e. plastic, steel, airfilm, some which are nothing
more than bushings.