Influence of misalignment on bearing function
In practice, shafts and housing axes can rarely be aligned precisely. Even slight angular deviations lead to uneven loading of the rolling elements and raceways.
This misalignment changes the pressure distribution in the bearing and has a direct effect on friction, running behaviour and service life. Depending on the bearing design, misalignment can lead to increased wear, running noise or heating, thereby impairing operational safety.
Permissible values and influencing factors
The tolerance limits for misalignment depend on the bearing geometry, the load and the speed. Depending on the series and load ratio, deep groove ball bearings allow between approximately 0.1° and 0.3°, while cylindrical roller bearings can usually only compensate for a few minutes of angle. Due to their spherical raceway, spherical roller bearings have the largest compensation range of up to 2.5°, while thrust bearings and precision bearings generally do not allow any misalignment. In applications with varying loads or high temperatures, structural compensation (e.g. through spherical bearings or flexible supports) should be planned in order to avoid load peaks and premature wear.
Significance for design and operational safety
Compliance with defined misalignment tolerances is crucial in order to achieve the planned service life and efficiency of the bearing.
Even slight deviations can affect the bearing clearance and the lubricating film, leading to increased stress on individual raceway areas. SKA® therefore recommends that not only the maximum permissible angle values but also the actual installation and operating conditions be taken into account during design. This allows stable, durable bearing concepts to be realised that continue to operate with consistent precision even under practical conditions.
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