Determine the size of a replacement ball bearing before heading to the store or placing an order to avoid wasting money and time. Typically, cylindrical-shaped ball bearings contain a set of balls that allow the outer casing to spin freely. Ball bearings come in many sizes for an array of equipment, from skateboard wheels to industrial equipment. The size of a bearing is calculated by finding its relevant dimensions in millimeters.
Measure the thickness of the old bearing, as viewed from its edge, in millimeters. This ensures that the bearing fits into the circular hole in the equipment.
Measure the diameter of the central hole in the bearing in millimeters to be sure that the bearing fits on the axle of the device you will use it with. The diameter is the width of a circle, measured on a line that passes through its center.
Determine the total diameter of the bearing in millimeters.
References
- NTN: Ball Bearings
- Physics for Scientists and Engineers With Modern Physics"; Raymond A. Serway and John W. Jewett; 2009
- Wolfram MathWorld: Diameter
About the Author
William Hirsch started writing during graduate school in 2005. His work has been published in the scientific journal "Physical Review Letters." He specializes in computer-related and physical science articles. Hirsch holds a Ph.D. from Wake Forest University in theoretical physics, where he studied particle physics and black holes.