Is there a problem of alignment in deep groove ball bearings?- Ningbo NBVO Seiko Bearing Co., Ltd

The Truth About Deep Groove Ball Bearing Alignment Issues

Content

1 1. Inherently Vulnerable to "Crooked Necks" (Design Flaw)
2 2. Real-world examples of misalignment issues:
3 3. Three ways to prevent misalignment issues:
4 4. When must deep groove ball bearings be discarded?

1. Inherently Vulnerable to "Crooked Necks" (Design Flaw)

Racecourse Rigid, Rigid Neck: The inner and outer raceways of a deep groove ball bearing are rigid grooves, forcing the balls to run in a straight line.
Slight misalignment of the shaft/bore (e.g., due to misalignment during installation):
One-sided weight distribution on the balls → Dents in the raceway → Abnormal noise + Premature failure.
Comparison: Self-aligning bearings are like "universal joints," allowing for a misalignment of 2°-3°; deep groove ball bearings are "stubborn," failing even with a 0.5° misalignment.

2. Real-world examples of misalignment issues:

Scenario	Consequence	How Operators Spot It
Motor mounted crooked	Inner race gouged like plowed field	Humming like angry bees + Housing hot to touch
Belt tension bent shaft	Outer race edges chipping off metal flakes	Machine shakes violently → Parts wobbling out of spec
Warped base frame	Bearings lock up solid	Wrench won’t turn shaft → Motor overload trips

3. Three ways to prevent misalignment issues:

Use a plumb line during installation:

Align the shaft and bearing housing holes with a plumb line; don't trust the naked eye (0.5mm deviation is enough to destroy the bearing).

Add elastic shims:

Uneven base? Use copper shims under the bearing housing to level it; don't force the screws.

Replace with a flexible coupling:

Misaligned motor and pump shafts? Use a perforated coupling to absorb vibration; don't let the bearings bear the brunt of the vibration.

4. When must deep groove ball bearings be discarded?

Shaft bending on its own: For example, long drive shafts (>1 meter) deform due to thermal expansion and contraction → Replace with self-aligning ball bearings.
Equipment frame with loose legs: The old machine tool base has settled → Replace with spherical roller bearings.
Excessive impact and vibration: The press makes a "clunk" sound every time → Misalignment of the inner and outer rings of the bearing → Replace with cylindrical roller bearings.