NSK Bearing Part Number System

Order codes for bearings are made up of a combination of letters and numbers. This alphanumeric combination denotes the type, size and structure of the bearing.

Within each order code, a distinction is made between the basic designation and any suffixes and prefixes.
The basic designation indicates the bearing type and the bore size.
These basic designations are defined in the German DIN 623 standard and the relevant ISO standard. For most bearing types, the basic designation is made up of numbers, but some are alphanumeric. Prefixes and suffixes denote special modifications, for example, if the internal clearance or accuracy deviates from the norm. The use of prefixes and suffixes is only partially standardised. Suffixes differ the most, with the various bearing manufacturers using different codes for certain modifications. This brochure explains the various bearing codes used by NSK and RHP and helps you compare them with other manufacturers’ designations.

NSK is one of the world’s largest bearing manufacturers. In the early 1990s, it took over the RHP Group, the UK‘s biggest bearings producer. Since then, NSK has been distributing bearings using the NSK and RHP brand names. In some cases, the two brands’ bearings use different supplementary designations. If no supplementary designation is listed under the NSK or RHP brand name, it means that there is no equivalent to the other brand’s designation.

NSK How the Order Codes for Bearings Are Made Up

The diagram below shows how the order codes are made up. There should be spaces separating the individual sections of an order code from one another.

Examples:

Designation of tapered roller bearings as per ISO 355

Basic Designation of NSK Bearing

The basic model of NSK bearing consists of bearing series code and bearing hole code. Commonly used metric bearing series, the most important code.

RHP still produces deep-groove ball bearings, separable ball bearings, angular contact ball bearings, four-point contact bearings, thrust ball bearings, cylindrical roller bearings and self-aligning bearings in imperial dimensions (inches). Please refer to our catalogue for these bearing series’ codes.

Code for the Bearing Bore

The code for the bearing bore indicates the bearing’s bore size. A two-digit number is used for bore sizes from 20 mm to 480 mm. This number is multiplied by five to give the bore size. For example, code 6224 stands for a deep-groove ball bearing with a bore size of 120 mm. Diameters of 10, 12, 15 and 17 mm is an exception. In these cases, 00 indicates a diameter of 10 mm, 01 stands for 12 mm, 02 means 15 mm, and the code 03 corresponds to a diameter of 17 mm.

Code for the Bearing BoreThe diameter is stated in mm for bore sizes up to 9 mm and over 480 mm. However, a deep-groove ball bearing with the code 688 MC3 has a bore size of 8 mm and a spherical roller bearing designated as 230/560 CAM E4 has a bore size of 560 mm. The bore size is separated from the bearing series code using a slash in the case of bearings with bore sizes that cannot be divided by five, e.g. 63/22.

Letters and Their Different Meanings

Prefixes and suffixes can have different meanings depending on the bearing series in question.

Examples:

HR 33206 J Contact angle as per ISO
6204 ZZ C3E AS2S 5 J Individually wrapped and boxed
6304 C3 E Low noise bearing
NJ 204 E T Extra capacity cylindrical roller bearing
R NU 207 Cylindrical roller bearing with no inner ring
R 4 ZZ Miniature bearing with imperial dimensions

NSK Bearing Prefixes | Suffixes

The use of prefixes is relatively small. They are almost exclusively used to indicate individual components of complete bearings or designated miniature bearings. A large number of suffixes are used to indicate structural modifications. Specifically, the suffix provides information about:

Here at TFL-Bearing, we provide a full range of NSK brand products at a very competitive price, including high-quality needle roller bearings, cross roller bearings, thrust bearings, roller bearings, ball linear motion rolling guides, roller rolling Guide rails, linear motion rolling guides, precision positioning tables, and machine parts. Most products can be shipped the same day or the next day.

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