These series comprise radial needle roller bearings and a rolling bearing component capable of supporting axial loads. They can support high radial forces as well as axial forces in one direction, while NKIB can support axial forces from both directions, and are used as locating or semi-locating bearings, Figure 1.

Combined needle roller bearings are X-life bearings. These bearings have optimised raceway surfaces. This gives higher load carrying capacity and longer rating life.

The bearings are available in the following designs:

• needle roller/axial deep groove ball bearings
• needle roller/axial cylindrical roller bearings
• needle roller/angular contact ball bearings.

These series do not have an inner ring and are therefore particularly compact in a radial direction. However, they require a shaft raceway that is hardened and ground.

Bearings NX and NX..-Z have a full complement axial ball bearing component and end caps.

Series NKX and NKX..-Z have an axial bearing component comprising a ball and cage assembly with a sheet steel or plastic cage. NKX..-Z also has an end cap on the axial bearing component.

For lubrication, the outer ring has a lubrication groove and lubrication holes.

NX and NKX are lubricated with oil. The end cap in NX has lubrication holes.

NX..-Z and NKX..-Z are lubricated with grease. The axial bearing component is greased using a lithium complex soap grease to GA08. The end caps do not have lubrication holes.

These bearings do not have an inner ring and are therefore particularly compact in a radial direction. However, they require a shaft raceway that is hardened and ground.

Series NKXR and NKXR..-Z have an axial bearing component comprising a roller and cage assembly with a plastic cage. NKXR..-Z also has an end cap on the axial bearing component.

For lubrication, the outer ring has a lubrication groove and lubrication holes.

NKXR is lubricated with oil.

NKXR..-Z is intended for grease lubrication. The axial bearing component is greased using a lithium complex soap grease to GA08. The end cap does not have lubrication holes.

Combined bearings NKIA and NKIB have an inner ring.

Series NKIA corresponds to DIN 5 429-2. It can support axial loads from one direction.

NKIB has one narrow inner ring and one wide inner ring. The axial bearing component has a plastic ball cage. At the point where the inner rings join, there is a shoulder on both sides for guidance of the ball and cage assembly. As a result, these bearings are also suitable for supporting axial forces alternating in direction.

The bearings guide the shaft with an axial clearance of 0,08 mm to 0,25 mm.

NKIA and NKIB can be lubricated with grease or oil. For lubrication, the outer ring has a lubrication groove and lubrication hole.

They are suitable for operating temperatures from –20 °C to +120 °C.

The radial cages are made from sheet steel or plastic. Bearings with a plastic cage have the suffix TV.

Suffixes for available designs: see table.