Angular contact needle roller bearings combine the characteristics of a needle roller bearing with those of an angular contact ball bearing. In addition to high radial forces, they can also accommodate axial forces and, depending on the design, are suitable for axial loads on one or both sides. This allows both support and fixed bearing functions to be realised in a compact design.
The design consists of a radial needle roller bearing, an angular contact ball bearing as the axial component and an inner ring. In the NKIA design, the inner ring is manufactured in one piece, while in the NKIB design it consists of a wide and a narrow ring. The ball cage in the axial part is usually made of a lightweight plastic material. Due to their low height, angular contact needle roller bearings are particularly suitable for space-critical applications with high speeds.
As they are not self-retaining, the inner and outer rings as well as the needle roller and ball sets can be mounted separately. A slight preload of the axial part is required for stable axial force absorption.