How Roller Bearings Are Different From Ball Bearings

  There are slight differences between Roller Bearings and Ball Bearings which makes it different to be used in varied applications. Want to know more? Read this blog to know about how roller bearings are different from ball bearings. While Ball Bearings and Roller Bearings are different types of bearings available in the bearings market they serve the purpose of working in different applications. They may have a similar function to perform in terms of offering smooth rotation and reducing the friction to support machinery but they are also differently designed to adapt in different situations. In aspects of the design also they might look similar but in literal terms, they have some distinctions which make them different.

What is Roller Bearing and Ball Bearing?

In mechanical aspects, the bearings are designed to bear loads which makes them capable to support the functioning of machinery in varied ways. They are both particularly designed to carry loads while reducing the friction between the points of contact. In terms of design, the ball bearing is a spherical unit while the roller bearing is a cylindrical unit.

Why are Bearings Used?

Metal to metal contact is next to possible as it can degrade the metal and result in wear and tear. In such cases, the role of bearing comes to reduce the friction by rolling two different surfaces over one another which are handled by rollers or balls. The Bearings are widely used in a number of different applications such as automobiles, machinery, mechanical equipment, railways, aeronautics, etc.  

How Roller Bearings are Different from Ball Bearings?

   

1. Use of Rolling Element:

In both Roller Bearing and Ball Bearing, there is a rolling element, cage and bearing rigs that consist of a bearing. When the rolling element in the bearing is a spherical ball then it is simply termed as a ball bearing.  

2. Roller Bearings are designed to withstand Heavy Loads:

The Roller Bearings use rollers in the place of balls which makes them capable to be used in radial and axial loads where misalignments are possible. In varied cases, they are used in automobiles like trucks, buses and vehicles.  

3. Distribution of Loads:

In the case of ball bearing, they work to transfer loads from outer raceway to inner raceway while in roller bearing it distributes the load over the large area making it desirable to manage load in a better way as compared to ball bearing. This happens due to line contact which makes it capable of handling resistance and shocks.  

4. Which bearing is better:

Both ball bearings and roller bearings may have different capacities, the roller bearing may be good in terms of shock and high resistance conditions while ball bearings might be good for operability at higher speeds.

Conclusion

The different bearings are designed to be used in different applications and are capable of handling varied loads. While some are designed best to be used in mechanical applications others can be used in components where there is a need of adjusting loads and radial applications i.e. automobiles. It is important to consider different factors while choosing bearings for your purpose.