KEVOS® MAKEOS · Engineering
Rolling Bearing Friction Torque and Heat
How much friction torque and heat does this rolling bearing produce?
Approximate friction torque, power loss and heat of a rolling bearing from its load, bore and a friction coefficient for the bearing type.
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How this tool works
Inputs, units and where to find them
| Input | Unit | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Bearing load | N | Resultant load on one bearing. |
| Bore diameter | mm | Bearing bore diameter. |
| Friction coefficient for the bearing type | Approximate constant friction coefficient from the bearing maker for the type (deep groove ball about 0.0015, cylindrical roller about 0.0011, spherical and tapered roller about 0.0018). | |
| Speed | rpm | Shaft speed. |
| Number of bearings | bearings | Number of similar bearings. |
Method and formulas
- Friction torque M = 0.5 μ P d.
- Power loss = M × 2πn ÷ 60 per bearing, times the number of bearings.
- Heat per hour = power × 3600.
- Example: 5000 N on a 50 mm bore at 1500 rpm loses about 58.905 W for 2 bearings.
Limitations
- Constant-coefficient approximation for normal loads and good lubrication; seals, churning and high speed add losses.
- Use the maker’s friction model for accurate thermal design.
- Example values are illustrations. Replace them with values for your actual task.
Typical uses
- Estimate bearing losses in a drive
- Check heat input to a gearbox or spindle
- Compare bearing types
Who it is for
- Maintenance engineers
- Reliability engineers
- Maintenance technicians
What you get
- Friction torque per bearing
- Power loss
- Heat per hour
Interpreting the result
- Seal and lubricant drag often exceed load friction at light loads.
References
- Machinery’s Handbook, 29th edition (Industrial Press, 2012), printed pp. 2365–2420. Topic reference; no source tables or recommended settings are reproduced.
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