What are Flanged Ball Bearings?

What are Flanged Ball Bearings?

Flanged ball bearings are precision rolling bearings that feature an integrated flange on the outer ring. This flange acts as a built-in locating shoulder, allowing the bearing to be accurately positioned within a housing without the need for additional components. The result is faster installation, improved axial location and greater consistency in assembly.

Often referred to as flange bearings, flanged bearings or ball bearings with a flange, these components are designed to support radial loads while maintaining precise shaft alignment. Their compact form factor makes them particularly effective in space-constrained assemblies where accuracy and repeatability are critical.

How Flanged Ball Bearings Work

Flanged ball bearings operate in the same way as standard deep groove ball bearings, using hardened steel balls running between inner and outer raceways to reduce friction and enable smooth rotational movement. The key difference lies in the flange, which prevents axial movement of the bearing once seated in a housing.

In practical engineering applications, this flange simplifies assembly by ensuring consistent bearing positioning, even in thin-walled or lightweight housings. For example, in small electric motors or linear motion systems, a flange-mounted bearing ensures the shaft remains correctly aligned under dynamic loads, reducing wear and extending service life.

Materials Flanged Ball Bearings Are Made From

Accu’s flanged ball bearings are manufactured from carefully selected bearing-grade materials to ensure performance, durability and dimensional accuracy:

• Steel - (AISI 52100): Offers excellent hardness, fatigue resistance and load-carrying capability, making it ideal for high-precision, high-speed applications.
• Stainless Steel - (440): Provides enhanced corrosion resistance while maintaining strong mechanical performance, suited to humid environments or applications requiring improved chemical resistance.

Sizes and Types of Flanged Ball Bearings Available

Our flanged ball bearings are available in a wide range of miniature and larger-format sizes to support precision engineering requirements. Inside diameters range from 1 mm to 9 mm, with outside diameters between 3 mm and 26 mm. Bearing thicknesses span 1 mm to 8 mm, allowing integration into compact assemblies without compromising stability.

The flange itself is proportioned for accurate location, with flange diameters from 3.8 mm to 28 mm and flange thicknesses between 0.3 mm and 2 mm. This variety ensures compatibility with different housing designs while maintaining consistent axial positioning across applications.

Depending on the environment, different shield types can be selected. Open shield flanged ball bearings allow for minimal friction in applications where contamination is controlled. Double shielded bearings protect against debris while maintaining high speed performance. In a dusty of moisture-prone environment, double sealed bearings are ideal as they offer enhanced protection against contamination.

FAQs

Q: What is the difference between unflanged and flanged bearings?

A: The primary difference is axial location. Flanged bearings include a built-in flange on the outer ring, which prevents axial movement once installed in a housing. Unflanged bearings require additional shoulders, clips or spacers to achieve the same positioning.

Q: How do you measure a flanged bearing?

A: A flanged bearing is measured by its inside diameter (shaft size), outside diameter, overall thickness, flange diameter and flange thickness. Accurate measurement with a caliper of all five dimensions is essential to ensure correct fit and alignment within the housing.

Q: When should flanged bearings be used?

A: Flanged bearings are best used when precise axial location is required, particularly in compact assemblies or thin housings. They are commonly specified in motors, gearboxes, linear systems and automation equipment where consistent positioning and simplified installation are priorities.

Bespoke Flanged Ball Bearings Manufacture.

High precision, bespoke manufacture of Flanged Ball Bearings to customer specification. State of the art facilities specializing in both small batch prototyping and large scale manufacture.