Needle bearings come in different types. There are needle bearings with ribs and needle bearings without ribs. Needle bearings with ribs are single or double row assemblies consisting of solid outer rings produced with cutting edges with ribs, needle cylinders and removable inner rings. These are available as both open and sealed versions. Needle bearings without ribs are single or double row assemblies consisting of solid outer rings produced with cutting edges but without ribs, needle cylinders or removable inner rings. These bearings are fully removable. This means that the outer ring, needle cylinder and inner ring can be installed separately. Adjustable needle bearings are assemblies consisting of drawn sheet steel outer sleeves, concave plastic support rings, ball-shaped inside diameter, outer rings with a spherical shell, needle cylinders and removable inner rings. The bearings compensate for static misalignments of the shaft so that the shaft can be positioned at an angle in relation to the housing. Adjustable needle bearings can easily be fitted in a smooth bore, and it also means that adjustable needle bearings do not have to be fixed axially. Combined needle bearings are assemblies of radial needle bearings with a split roller bearing that can support axial loads.
Needle roller cages and needle roller bushes are bearings consisting of thin-walled outer rings made from of drawn sheet material and needle cylinders. There are also full complement needle roller cages. Most models are single row assemblies. Needle roller cages and needle roller bushes are available as both open and sealed versions. The thin-walled outer ring makes it possible to create extremely compact bearing rings, provided that the shaft race is hardened and ground. Needle roller cages and needle roller bushes have a high load capacity, are suitable for high speeds and are particularly easy to assemble. Needle roller cages and needle roller bushes are to be fitted in a smooth bore, with no further axial fixing required.
