ABMA, ANSI, ABEC?
Many of our customers are interested in learning about the ABEC rating (or grade) of our bearings. But these other groups are also important in the classification process.
ABMA- AMERICAN BEARING MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION
In the United States, this group maintains the standards deemed necessary by its bearing industry member companies.
ANSI: AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS INSTITUTE
Bearing standards are then proposed to this institute for approval as US national standards. ANSI has a committee of representatives from user organizations, manufacturers, and the US government that are all devoted to rolling bearings standards activities.
ABEC: ANNULAR BEARINGS ENGINEERS COMMITTEE
Tolerance classes for ball bearings were defined by this committee within ABMA. These tolerances are commonly referred to as ABEC rating, or grade.
The ABEC tolerance classifications specify both tolerances of size and form for the individual inner and outer rings.
WHAT ABEC LEVELS DO YOU OFFER?
Ritbearing offers ABEC 1, 3, 5, and 7 products.
DO HIGHER ABEC LEVELS RESULT IN A QUIETER BEARING?
Many factors go into the noise level of a bearing. There are many features that are not controlled by the ABEC specifications. These include:
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Internal clearance
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Surface finish
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Ball accuracy
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Torque
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Noise
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Cage type
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Lubrication
All of these items should be specified along with the precision class when selecting bearings to ensure optimum life and performance.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
It’s also important to remember that different countries have their own standards for organization. For example other major bearing producers such as Germany, Japan, Korea, Russia, and China, all have standards that are similar to or state equivalency with ISO 492.
If you have additional questions about ABEC rating or how it applies to your specific situation, please contact one of our experts and we’ll help you find the best solution.
Photo Credit: “Question Box” By Raymond Bryson is licensed under CC BY 2.0