How to Choose Cross Roller Bearings – 5 Practical Tips

Cross roller bearings handle radial loads, axial loads, and tilting moments all at once. They are compact and precise—commonly used in robot joints, rotary tables, medical devices, and automation equipment. Picking the wrong one can hurt performance and shorten machine life. Here is what really matters when selecting one.

1.Know Your Application First

Different machines need different bearings. Robot arms need high rigidity, low friction, and small size. Rotary tables require high rotation accuracy and repeatability. Medical or lab equipment must run quietly and stay clean. Be clear about your use case—it drives every other decision.

2.Check Available Space

Measure these three dimensions: shaft diameter (inner ring size), housing bore (outer ring size), and mounting height (bearing thickness). If space is tight, look for thin-section cross roller bearings like RU, XRT, or CRBH series. They save room without losing stiffness.

3.Understand Your Loads

Cross roller bearings carry three types of force: radial load (side force, perpendicular to shaft), axial load (thrust along the shaft), and moment load (tilting or overturning force). Check the manufacturer’s load rating chart. Keep your actual load below 80 percent of the rated capacity for safety and long life.

4.Do Not Over-Specify Precision

Common accuracy grades are P5, P4, and P2 (lower number means higher precision). For general automation, P5 is usually enough. For high-end robots or CNC turntables, go for P4 or better. Higher precision costs more—but if your machine does not need it, you are just wasting money.

5.Price Is Not Everything

Cheap bearings often cut corners. Poor steel wears out fast. Inconsistent grinding causes uneven rotation. Wrong preload leads to low rigidity or noise. Look for suppliers who offer stable quality, test reports (runout, preload, etc.), and real technical support. A reliable bearing saves downtime and maintenance later.

Why Choose Beining Technology?

We design and manufacture cross roller bearings for demanding applications like hollow rotary platforms, robotic joint modules, and precision indexing tables.

Our advantages:

1.Standard models in stock (RU, XRB, SHF, CRBH series)

2.Custom sizes, preload, and sealing available

3.Every batch tested – reports provided

4.Engineers ready to help with selection