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Drawn cup needle roller bearings

Drawn cup needle roller bearing is a type of bearing that uses long, thin cylindrical rollers (needles) to support radial loads. The “drawn cup” refers to the method of manufacturing the outer race, which is made from a thin-walled steel cup that is drawn into shape. This design allows for a compact bearing with a high load-carrying capacity.

ZMS is a professional drawn cup needle roller bearings supplier in China for 15 years. We supply various kinds of drawn cup needle roller bearings. And can fullfil customers requirements from standard modals and custom requirements. From top manufactures in the world INA, IKO, NTN, SKF, Koyo and so on and to high quality drawn cup needle roller bearings in China, or standard quality, we can help you in choosing and select best products for you.

Item

Desc

Main series we can supply

HK series Drawn cup needle roller bearing with open ends
BK series Drawn cup needle roller bearing, closed end, with a cage.
SCE series Shell Cup, Inch series, Open ends.(Mainly use in North America)
BA series A designation used by IKO (and sometimes other brands) for drawn cup needle roller bearings, also in inch sizes.
BCE series BCE series is similar to the SCE series, but the key difference is that BCE bearings have a closed end with a lubrication hole
ZOH AS1 Is a design by INA drawn cup needle roller bearings with oil hole

Full Complement Drawn Cup Needle Roller Bearings Series:

FFH series Drawn cup needle roller bearings with full complement without cage and with pointed end roller
MF NFH series Drawn cup needle roller bearings with full complement without cage with closed end
FY series Drawn cup needle roller bearings with full complement without cage with open ends
MFY series Drawn cup needle roller bearings with full complement with closed end

Sealed Drawn Cup Needle Roller Bearings Series:

HK…RS series Drawn cup needle roller bearings open end with one side seal
HK…2RS series Drawn cup needle roller bearings open end with two side seals
BK…RS series Drawn cup needle roller bearing closed end with one side seal

Full Complement

The absence of a cage allows for more needle rollers, which significantly increases the radial load-carrying capacity compared to caged types of the same size.
Because the rollers are in direct contact with each other (no cage to separate them), these bearings are not suitable for high-speed applications. Friction and heat generation are higher at elevated speeds.
Available in both open-end (both sides open) and closed-end (one side closed) versions, depending on application needs.

Sealed type

These bearings have seals (usually rubber or synthetic material) on one or both sides. The seals help prevent the ingress of dust, dirt, and other contaminants. They also help retain lubricant inside the bearing, improving reliability and reducing maintenance.

Application

Open End Drawn Cup Needle Roller Bearings

Features: Open at both ends, allows shaft to pass through. Applications:
Automotive transmissions and gearboxes
Two-stroke engines (connecting rods)
Agricultural machinery
Textile machinery
Power tools

Closed End Drawn Cup Needle Roller Bearings

Features: One end is closed, suitable for shaft end mounting. Applications:
Electric motors (supporting shaft ends)
Automotive starters
Small gearboxes
Pumps

Sealed Drawn Cup Needle Roller Bearings

Features: Equipped with seals to retain grease and exclude contaminants. Applications:
Automotive components (e.g., steering columns, transmissions)
Home appliances (washing machines, vacuum cleaners)
Office equipment (printers, copiers)
Power tools (drills, grinders)

Maximum Radial Load in Minimum Space

When radial space is at an absolute premium, standard machined-ring bearings are simply too bulky. ZMS Drawn Cup Needle Roller Bearings are the ultimate low-profile solution. They feature a unique, thin-walled outer ring precisely deep-drawn from high-quality sheet steel. This incredibly thin cross-section allows engineers to maintain a large shaft diameter for maximum rigidity, while still providing an exceptionally high radial load-carrying capacity.

HK (Open End) vs. BK (Closed End) Designs

HK Series (Open Ends): The standard design, open on both sides, allowing the shaft to pass completely through. Ideal for general gearboxes and power tools.

BK Series (Closed End): One end of the drawn cup is completely sealed. This closed design is perfect for shaft ends, acting as a highly effective, space-saving seal to prevent grease leakage and block contaminants from entering the bearing arrangement.

Direct Housing Installation (No Axial Location Required)

One of the greatest engineering advantages of drawn cup needle roller bearings is their installation simplicity. Because the thin-walled outer ring is designed to be press-fitted tightly into the housing bore, it creates a rigid interference fit. This means no additional axial locating methods (like snap rings or shoulders) are required, drastically simplifying housing design and reducing assembly time for high-volume OEM production.

Caged vs. Full Complement Options

Cage-Guided: Utilizing a steel or polyamide cage to guide the needle rollers, this is the standard choice for high-speed applications (e.g., automotive alternators), ensuring excellent grease retention and low friction.

Full Complement: For extremely heavy-duty, slow-oscillating applications (e.g., agricultural machinery joints), we offer full complement designs packed with the maximum number of rollers to deliver the highest possible load rating.

Frequently Asked Question

Do drawn cup needle roller bearings have an inner ring?

Generally, no. They are designed to run directly on a hardened and ground shaft to save maximum space. However, if the shaft cannot be hardened, ZMS can supply separate IR (Inner Rings) to be used with the drawn cup bearing.

How should I install a drawn cup needle roller bearing without damaging it?

Never strike the bearing directly with a hammer. Because the outer ring is thin sheet steel, it must be pressed into the housing bore using a dedicated mounting mandrel (pressing tool) that applies even pressure to the stamped face of the bearing.

What is the difference between metric and inch drawn cup bearings?

Metric series are typically designated by the prefix HK or BK, while inch series (popular in the North American market) are designated by prefixes such as SCE or BCE. ZMS manufactures both standards to support global OEM supply chains.