Flange Bearing Comprehensive Analysis: Characteristics, Applications, and Selection Guide
May 25, 2026| 1. Overview of Flange Bearings
A flange bearing is a composite mechanical component that integrates a flange with a bearing design. The outer ring of the bearing features a flange structure. This unique design allows the flange bearing to have simple axial positioning and eliminates the need for a separate bearing housing. It is widely used in industrial production and precision mechanical equipment, particularly where the shaft end requires planar fixation.
Flange bearings use small-diameter steel balls to reduce friction torque, improving rigidity and rotational accuracy. Standard dimensions are ABEC-1 grade, with a simple structure and strong economy. Improving cage clearance design, optimizing cage strength, and adding guide grooves can effectively extend service life.
2. Structural Characteristics of Flange Bearings
2.1 Core Structural Features
1. Integrated Flange and Bearing Design
The main feature of a flange bearing is the integration of the flange and bearing. When one end of the shaft has no connector and needs to be fixed to a plane (such as a plate or wall), the flange bearing demonstrates significant structural advantages with its integrated design. Compared to conventional bearings that require a separate housing, flange bearings eliminate intermediate assembly steps, resulting in a more compact structure and easier installation.
2. High Rigidity and High Rotational Accuracy
Flange bearings use small-diameter steel balls to reduce friction torque, improving rigidity and rotational accuracy. The hollow shaft design achieves lightweight construction and provides space for wiring.
3. Sealing and Dust Protection Designs
Depending on the application environment, flange bearings can be equipped with various sealing types:
ZZ Series (Metal Shield): Double-sided steel plate shields, suitable for environments with less dust, offering higher speeds.
RS Series (Rubber Seal): Double-sided rubber seals, offering better water and dust protection, suitable for humid or dusty environments.
Teflon Seal Series: High-temperature resistance, chemical corrosion resistance, suitable for special applications.
Additionally, stainless steel series and ceramic ball series are available to meet various operating conditions.
2.2 Installation Precautions for Flange Bearings
The following points should be noted when installing flange bearings to ensure normal operation and service life:
Mounting Surface Rigidity: The mounting surface must have sufficient rigidity to avoid deformation under load.
Flatness Control: The flatness of the mounting surface should be kept below 0.1mm, ideally below 0.05mm, to prevent deformation that could reduce service life.
Angular Error Control: The angular error between the mounting surface and the shaft is recommended to be within ±2° (for narrow outer ring type and cover type ±1°), and should be minimized to prevent abnormal noise and damage.
Bolt Tightening: Align the bearing flange holes with the base threaded holes, initially tighten bolts, then use a dial indicator to check coaxiality (recommended ≤0.03mm). Tighten flange bolts sequentially in a diagonal pattern to avoid stress-induced deformation.
3. Main Applications of Flange Bearings
Flange bearings are widely used in industrial automation and precision mechanical equipment. The main application areas and typical equipment are listed below:
[Table 1: Main Application Areas of Flange Bearings]
| Application Area | Typical Equipment / Use |
|---|---|
| Office Equipment | Printers, fax machines, copiers, scanners, card readers, ATMs |
| Motors & Drives | Micro motors, stepper motors, soft drives, reducers, variable speed devices |
| Medical Equipment | Dental drills, medical devices, testing instruments |
| Smart Devices | Monitors, automation equipment, smart robots, model aircraft motors |
| Consumer Electronics | Toy models, VCR drums, fans, optical imaging instruments |
| Industrial Transmission | Pulleys, rollers, transmission equipment, pressure rotors, power tools |
| IT Equipment | Hard disk drives (HDD motors), mechatronic equipment |
Flange bearings have application space in everyday household products, from printers and fax machines to monitors. Bearings manufactured to standard ABEC-1 size and accuracy can meet general product requirements.
It is worth noting that AISI440 stainless steel flange bearings produced by professional domestic manufacturers have been widely used in ATM components, printers, fax machines, monitors, automation equipment, food machinery, smart robots, model aircraft motors, dental drills, and other fields, and have been supporting many domestic and international host manufacturers with stable product quality and timely supply.
[Table 2: Common Stainless Steel Flange Bearing Model List]
| Model | Bore (mm) | OD (mm) | Width (mm) | Flange OD (mm) | Precision | Material | Main Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SF607ZZ | 7 | 19 | 6 | 22 | P6 | AISI440 | Motors, medical devices, food machinery |
| SF604-2RS | 4 | 12 | 4 | 13.5 | P6 | AISI440 | ATMs, automation equipment, printers |
| SF699ZZ | 9 | 20 | 5 | 23 | P6 | AISI440 | Smart robots, model aircraft motors |
| SF698-2RS | 8 | 19 | 6 | 22 | P6 | AISI440 | Food machinery, monitors, automation |
Stainless steel material is generally AISI 440 (domestic grade 9Cr18), precision grade P6. Stainless steel flange bearings are also suitable for food processing machinery, using FDA-certified lubricants (e.g., FM 222 with FDA, CIFA, NSF H1 certifications), with an applicable temperature range of -20°C to +90°C (some types up to +120°C).
4. Material Classification of Flange Bearings
| Material Type | Housing Material | Bearing Material | Temperature Range | Certification/Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon Steel Flange Bearing | Carbon steel | Bearing steel (GCr15) | -30°C~120°C | High versatility, low cost |
| Stainless Steel Flange Bearing | Stainless steel 1.4301/1.4305 (AISI304) | Stainless steel 1.4125 (AISI440C) | -20°C~90°C (some up to 120°C) | Corrosion resistant, food-grade certified (FDA, NSF H1, etc.) |
| Plastic Flange Bearing | Engineering plastic (igumid G) | iglidur J3 wear-resistant plastic | -40°C~120°C | Lubrication-free, corrosion resistant, lightweight, ~40% cost reduction, 12× wear resistance of metal |
| Ceramic Flange Bearing | Stainless steel / engineering plastic | Silicon nitride or zirconia ceramic balls | -50°C~300°C | High temperature resistance, electrical insulation, ultra-long life |
5. Selection Guide for Flange Bearings
When selecting a flange bearing, the following factors should be considered:
Operating Environment:
Dry and clean environment: Choose ZZ metal shield series.
Humid or dusty environment: Choose RS rubber seal series.
Corrosive environment or food processing: Choose stainless steel material (AISI440) with FDA-certified grease.
Heavy load or high impact environment: Plastic flange bearings offer significantly better wear resistance than metal.
Speed Requirement: Metal shield series are suitable for higher speeds than rubber seal series.
Space Constraints: Flange bearings themselves are integrated structures, occupying less space than "bearing + housing" combinations. For extremely limited installation space, micro flange bearings are available.
Load Magnitude: Select the appropriate bearing size model based on working load, referencing rated dynamic and static load parameters.
Cost Considerations: Carbon steel flange bearings have the lowest cost; stainless steel flange bearings are higher but meet corrosion resistance and food-grade requirements; engineering plastic flange bearings have moderate cost, but their lubrication-free feature and long life can significantly reduce maintenance costs, offering clear total lifecycle advantages.
6. Flange Bearing Technical Parameter Reference
Flange bearing models and technical parameters are shown in the table below (example of F series):
[Table 3: F Series Flange Bearing Technical Parameters (excerpt)]
| Model | Bore d (mm) | OD D (mm) | Width B (mm) | Dynamic Load Cr(N) | Static Load Cor(N) | Grease Speed (10,000 rpm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F 682 ZZ | 2 | 5 | 2.3 | 167 | 49 | 9.4 |
| F 692 ZZ | 2 | 6 | 3 | 330 | 98 | 8.3 |
| F 602 ZZ | 2 | 7 | 3.5 | 382 | 127 | 7.3 |
| F 683 ZZ | 3 | 7 | 3 | 314 | 108 | 6.6 |
| F 693 ZZ | 3 | 8 | 4 | 559 | 176 | 6.0 |
| F 684 ZZ | 4 | 9 | 4 | 637 | 225 | 5.1 |
| F 694 ZZ | 4 | 11 | 4 | 960 | 353 | 4.4 |
| F 604 ZZ | 4 | 12 | 4 | 960 | 353 | 4.1 |
| F 624 ZZ | 4 | 13 | 5 | 1300 | 490 | 3.9 |
| F 685 ZZ | 5 | 11 | 5 | 715 | 284 | 4.1 |
| F 695 ZZ | 5 | 13 | 4 | 1080 | 431 | 3.7 |
| F 605 ZZ | 5 | 14 | 5 | 1330 | 510 | 3.5 |
| F 686 ZZ | 6 | 13 | 5 | 1080 | 441 | 3.5 |
| F 696 ZZ | 6 | 15 | 5 | 1340 | 519 | 3.1 |
| F 606 ZZ | 6 | 17 | 6 | 2260 | 843 | 2.9 |
| F 687 ZZ | 7 | 14 | 5 | 1180 | 510 | 3.1 |
| F 697 ZZ | 7 | 17 | 5 | 1610 | 715 | 2.7 |
7. Summary
Flange bearings, as mechanical components integrating flange and bearing, offer simple axial positioning, no need for a separate housing, compact structure, good rigidity, and high rotational accuracy. They play an important role in office equipment, micro motors, medical devices, automation, and transmission equipment.
When selecting, users should comprehensively consider environmental cleanliness, presence of corrosive media, speed requirements, space constraints, and cost budget based on specific operating conditions. Stainless steel flange bearings (AISI440/304) are suitable for humid, corrosive, and food contact scenarios; metal shield series are suitable for high-speed clean environments; rubber seal series are suitable where water and dust protection are needed; plastic split flange bearings, with their lubrication-free, corrosion-resistant, lightweight characteristics, are ideal for applications requiring quick maintenance and lower operating costs.
With continuous innovation in flange bearing technology, such as Haineng Electromechanical's three-dimensional restraint system improving oil seal displacement resistance by over 60%, and igus's split design reducing assembly work by 80%, the industry is moving steadily toward greater efficiency, reliability, and intelligence.