Products

Roller Bearings

Roller & Cylindrical Bearings are a type of rolling-element bearing that uses cylinders (rollers) to maintain the separation between the moving parts of the bearing (as opposed to using balls as the rolling element). The purpose of cylindrical bearings is to reduce rotational friction and support radial and axial loads. Compared to ball bearings, roller bearings can support heavy radial loads and limited axial loads (parallel to the shaft). They can operate at moderate to high speeds (although maximum speeds are typically below the highest speeds of ball bearings). The lubrication method must carefully be considered during the design phase when using roller bearings.

Bearings Catalog

Check out our online product catalog with more than 10,000 products with full specifications & 3D CAD Models available for download - all free of charge!

View Catalog

Roller Bearings Product Types

AST is an expert in roller bearing products. Our interactive online catalog has over 2,400 different models of roller bearings included and are sub-classified in the following categories. Click on each to learn more about each type of roller bearing:

Cam Follower Roller Bearings, Stud Type

Cylindrical Roller Bearings

Inner Rings

Needle Roller Bearings

Precision Needle Roller Bearings

Spherical Roller Bearings

Tapered Roller Bearings

Roller Bearing Advantages

While ball bearings excel in high-speed, low-torque environments, roller bearings are the engineered solution for applications where radial or axial forces exceed the point-contact limits of a steel ball. By utilizing line contact between the rolling elements and the raceway, roller bearings distribute loads over a larger surface area, significantly increasing the basic dynamic load rating (Cr) for the same given envelope.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is edge loading and how does AST prevent it?

Edge loading occurs when slight shaft misalignment causes the stress to concentrate at the very ends of the roller. If left unaddressed, this leads to "pitting" and rapid fatigue. AST’s high-precision roller series utilize crowned rollers, where the diameter is reduced by microns toward the ends. This ensures the pressure distribution remains elliptical and centered on the raceway, even under heavy deflection.

When should I transition from a needle roller to a standard cylindrical roller?

Needle rollers are excellent for "radial space-constrained" designs where you may be using the shaft itself as the inner raceway. However, because of their high length-to-diameter ratio, they are more sensitive to shaft bending. If your assembly allows for a larger radial envelope, transitioning to a standard cylindrical roller bearing will provide higher speed ratings and better tolerance for shaft misalignment.

Can roller bearings handle high-speed applications?

Generally, roller bearings have lower speed ratings than ball bearings of the same size due to the increased friction of line contact. However, speed limits can be significantly extended by specifying machined brass cages (which offer better guidance and heat dissipation) and utilizing synthetic circulating oil lubrication rather than grease.

What is the benefit of matched sets in tapered roller applications?

In many gearbox and wheel-end applications, a single tapered bearing cannot support axial loads in both directions. We provide matched sets—two bearings ground to work together—which allow the engineer to set a precise "end play" or "preload" during installation. This is critical for preventing axial "float" that can lead to gear misalignment and noise.