What are the main differences between angular contact ball bearings and other types of bearings?

1. Design and Construction
Angular contact ball bearings are designed with a unique contact angle that allows them to effectively handle combined loads, that is, to carry both axial and radial loads. The contact angle is generally between 15° and 40°, and the larger the contact angle, the greater the axial load the bearing can carry. This design makes angular contact ball bearings particularly suitable for high-load, high-speed applications such as high-speed motors, precision machine tools, and aerospace equipment.

In contrast, deep groove ball bearings have a smaller contact angle, almost zero, which makes them mainly used to carry radial loads. Although deep groove ball bearings can also carry a certain amount of axial load, they are not specifically designed for this purpose and their axial load capacity is far less than that of angular contact ball bearings. Cylindrical roller bearings do not have a significant contact angle. Their design focuses on carrying radial loads and has a weaker ability to carry axial loads, which makes them suitable for applications that require large radial stiffness, but not suitable for environments that carry large axial loads.

2. Load Capacity
Angular contact ball bearings can handle both high axial loads and high radial loads due to the design of their contact angle. The contact angle allows the bearing to support radial loads while carrying axial loads. The larger the contact angle, the greater the bearing's axial load capacity, but it may also result in a decrease in radial load capacity. Therefore, choosing the right contact angle is critical to meeting the load requirements in a specific application.
The load capacity of deep groove ball bearings is mainly reflected in radial loads. They can carry some axial loads, but are generally not as efficient as angular contact ball bearings. If the application scenario requires both large axial and radial loads, deep groove ball bearings may not be able to meet these requirements. Tapered Roller Bearings are designed specifically to carry high axial and radial loads. They can handle large axial loads, but their radial load capacity is lower than that of angular contact ball bearings, and they usually require additional adjustments and fits.

3. Operational Precision and Noise
Angular contact ball bearings exhibit excellent precision and stability at high speeds, due to their design, which allows the contact angle to effectively reduce friction and heat accumulation in the bearing. This design not only improves the running accuracy of the bearing, but also reduces noise and vibration, making angular contact ball bearings very suitable for environments with strict requirements on noise and vibration, such as high-speed motors and precision machinery.
Deep groove ball bearings also have high running accuracy, but their axial load capacity is weak and may generate more noise when subjected to large axial loads. Cylindrical roller bearings may generate more noise and vibration when running at high speeds, especially under heavy loads, because their design focuses on improving radial stiffness rather than optimizing noise levels. This makes them less effective than angular contact ball bearings in applications that require lower noise and vibration.

4. Applicable scenarios
Angular contact ball bearings are widely used in scenarios that require both large axial and radial loads due to their excellent load capacity and running accuracy. For example, in the aerospace field, high-speed motors, precision machine tools, robots and other equipment all require angular contact ball bearings to provide stable support. Its design can meet the requirements of high loads and high speeds, ensuring the stability and performance of the equipment under extreme conditions.
Deep groove ball bearings are widely used in various general mechanical equipment, such as motors, household appliances, automobiles, etc. These applications usually require small axial loads and high rotational speeds, and deep groove ball bearings can work stably under these conditions. Tapered roller bearings are suitable for applications that need to withstand high axial loads and large radial loads, such as automotive wheels, transmission systems, etc. They are designed to effectively cope with heavy load conditions, but may not be as good as angular contact ball bearings in environments with high requirements for precision and noise.

5. Installation and adjustment
The installation and adjustment of angular contact ball bearings are relatively complex, and the appropriate contact angle and fit need to be selected according to the load requirements of the application. Proper installation and adjustment are essential to ensure the performance and life of the bearing. Since the load direction of angular contact ball bearings is closely related to the contact angle, incorrect installation may cause premature wear or failure.
In contrast, the installation of deep groove ball bearings and cylindrical roller bearings is relatively simple. Deep groove ball bearings can be installed in general bearing seats, while cylindrical roller bearings usually require a more stringent fit to ensure their performance. In applications, although these bearings are relatively simple to install and adjust, it is still necessary to ensure that they match other components to avoid problems in operation.

6. Self-positioning capability
Angular contact ball bearings have good self-positioning capability during installation and use, and can provide stable support in the axial and radial directions. However, due to the existence of its contact angle, the self-positioning capability of the bearing may require more precise adjustment in the axial direction. The performance of the bearing is greatly affected by the quality of installation, especially under high load conditions.
Deep groove ball bearings have strong self-positioning capabilities and can provide good support in the radial and axial directions, but their axial load capacity is relatively weak. Cylindrical roller bearings generally have strong radial stiffness, but their axial adjustment capability is relatively weak. This makes cylindrical roller bearings may outperform deep groove ball bearings in applications requiring high axial stiffness, but in environments with high precision requirements, the performance of angular contact ball bearings will be more prominent.