Ball bearings consist of two raceways, with a series of smooth metal balls in between, which enable rotation. These balls support the load of the application, as well as reducing friction between the surfaces.
Ball bearings are the most common bearing type and can be found in many every day objects, such skateboards, blenders, bicycles, DVD players and photocopiers. This type of bearing is typically used in applications which have a high speed and a low load.
If the load on a ball bearing is too high, there is the risk that the balls may become deformed and cause the bearing to fail prematurely.
It is important that a ball bearing is lubricated effectively, usually with grease, as well as being sealed to retain the grease and prevent the ingress of contamination. This is even more paramount in industries where the contamination levels are high, for example in mining & quarrying applications, and in the agriculture industry.