Engineering Reference

Precision Ball & Roller Bearings
(Medium to Large Diameter)

Ball Grades

Balls are manufactured to the precision requirements noted in ANSI/ABMA Std. 10A for steel balls and ASTM F2094 for ceramic balls. These standards require that balls meet the limits for ball diameter, spherical form, and roughness noted below for each grade level. Lower-grade numbers denote more precise balls, which help to improve accuracy, reduce running torque, lengthen lube life, and reduce noise. With few exceptions, NHBB manufactures its precision bearings with grade 10A and 10C balls or better.


Individual Balls

Ball GradeVARIATION OF BALL DIAMETER
(0.000001 IN.)
DEVIATION FROM SPHERICAL FORM
(0.000001 IN.)
SURFACE ROUGHNESS RA MAX.
SteelCeramic

SteelCeramic
G3A3C 330.400.15
G5A5C550.560.20
G10A10C10100.800.25
G16A16C16161.000.35
G24A 24C24242.600.50


Lots

Ball Grade
SteelCeramicDeviation From Ball Lot Diameter (0.000001 IN.)
G3A3C5
G5A 5C10
G10A10C20
G16A16C32
G24A24C48