Needle roller bearings use long, thin cylindrical rollers to support radial loads. These needle rollers have a length that is typically three to four times its diameter. Needle roller bearings have a thinner cross section than other roller bearings and are ideal for limited-space applications that require carrying heavy loads. Drawn cup needle roller bearings have a deeply drawn, thin-walled outer ring. Caged drawn cup units contain a one-piece cage to guide and retain the rollers. Full-complement drawn cup units include the maximum number of rollers that can be retained by the outer shell. The drawn design allows for cost-effective accommodation of heavy radial loads. Needle roller and cage assemblies do not contain inner or outer rings. Instead, the self-contained bearing components work with a shaft or housing bore used as a raceway.
