Needle roller bearings (sometimes called “needle bearings”) use long and narrow cylindrical rollers that sometimes exceed JIS/ISO size ranges. They are categorized as thrust or radial bearings based on which load direction they support. Radial types include drawn-cup and solid types, as well as application-specific track rollers (cam and roller followers). Thrust needle and thrust roller bearings respond to axial load needs. Cage & Needle Roller Assemblies Cage & roller assemblies are easy-to-handle bearings that offer high load capacity despite their small size. A unique cage structure guides the needle rollers and allows for effective lubrication even at high speeds.Cage & roller assembles feature controlled contour crowning to reduce stress concentrations on the roller end from moderate misalignment/shaft bending, thereby extending bearing life. Features User friendlyEasy-to-handle, with a unique cage structure that keeps the rollers in place.Easy-to-lubricateThe outside surface of the cage forms the guide surface, providing good lubrication conditions. Applications Planetary gears in automobiles, constant mesh gearboxesIndustrial machinery, robot speed reducers Drawn Cup Needle Roller Bearings NSK drawn cup needle roller bearings feature a cage and full complement of rollers with a unique outer ring structure. These easy-to-mount bearings offer the thinnest outer ring of all rolling bearings along with high load capacity, high limiting speeds, and strong resistance to wear. Carefully selected alloyed steel allows for high maximum permissible loads, and surface-hardened cages help the bearings stand up to tough conditions. Features Helps make equipment smaller and lighterThe outer ring's small cross-sectional height helps support equipment downsizing and space-saving designs.Low-cost, easy-to use designSave costs with bearings that can be mounted axially with a press fit. No need for snap rings, collars, or housing shoulders.Capacity for high loads or high speedsModels with cages support high-speed rotation, while full complement designs allow for high load capacity.Applications Planetary gears in automobiles, constant mesh gearboxesIndustrial machinery, robot speed reducers Solid Needle Roller Bearings Solid needle roller bearings provide maximum load capacity with high precision in compact spaces. Suitable across a range of operating conditions, these bearings feature rings made of carefully selected vacuum-degassed bearing steel or carburized steel and precision-ground, heat-treated rollers. Lightweight and extremely strong, the cage guides the rollers accurately and smoothly. Features High rigidityQuality materials provide high rigidity that stands up to heavy loads and impact loads. These bearings are available with or without an inner ring. Types without an inner ring use the shaft directly as the raceway surface.Internationally interchangeableAvailable in internationally standardized dimension series based on ISO and MIL standards.Ideal for machine toolsWith high rigidity and precision, these bearings are well-suited to machine tools and other applications requiring rotational accuracy at high speeds under heavy loads. Applications High-speed machine toolsPlanetary gears in automobiles, constant mesh gearboxesIndustrial machinery, robot speed reducers Needle Roller Thrust Bearings Needle roller thrust bearings feature cage & needle roller assemblies with a surface-hardened cage made of two precision-pressed steel plates. The rollers are retained securely in the cage to maintain smooth rotation even under large axial loads. These bearings are so small that they can easily replace conventional thrust washers in the same mounting space. Different configurations are available, including standalone units, integrated raceway units, or units with different race thicknesses to match mounting conditions around the bearing. Features Space-saving designAchieves a compact design with the same thin cross-section height as a thrust washer.Using the gear side surface as the raceway allows for even greater equipment downsizing.High rigidity and wear resistanceThe cage is surface-hardened to provide high rigidity and resistance to wear. Applications Planetary gears in automobiles, constant mesh gearboxes, torque convertersAxial piston pumps, compressors Cam Followers Stud-type track rollers (cam followers) have a thick-walled outer ring, crowned rollers, and a stud with a hardened raceway surface for a tough structure that stands up to shock loads. The stud head is machined with screwdriver grooves and hexagonal holes for easy installation. Sealed types pre-filled with quality grease are also available. Features Easy-to-installA screw is provided on the stud along with machined driver grooves and hexagonal holes to make mounting easy.Sealed models availableModels with seals feature a labyrinth structure for low torque. Applications Machine tools and industrial machineryModels with cages support comparatively high speeds, while full complement designs allow for high load capacity.Track rollers, cams, rocker arms Download NSK Rolling Bearing Catalog