Cylindrical roller bearings feature line contact between the rollers and raceways. They possess high load-carrying capacity and primarily accommodate radial loads. The minimal friction between the rolling elements and the flanges of the rings renders them suitable for high-speed rotation. Based on the presence or absence of flanges on the rings, they can be categorised into single-row cylindrical roller bearings such as NU, NJ, NUP, N, and NF, and double-row cylindrical roller bearings such as NNU and NN. This bearing features a separable inner and outer ring structure.

Cylindrical roller bearings without flanges on either the inner or outer ring permit axial relative movement between the rings, enabling their use as non-locating bearings. Bearings with double flanges on one side of the inner and outer rings and a single flange on the opposite side can withstand axial loads in one direction to a certain extent. Typically, stamped steel cages or solid copper alloy cages are employed. However, some utilise moulded polyamide cages.

Characteristics

1. Line contact or modified line contact between rollers and raceways provides high radial load capacity, suitable for heavy and impact loads.

2. Low coefficient of friction makes them suitable for high speeds, with limiting speeds approaching those of deep groove ball bearings.

3. N and NU types permit axial displacement, accommodating relative shaft-to-housing positional changes due to thermal expansion or installation tolerances, and may serve as free-end supports.

4. Demands higher machining precision for shafts or housing bores; post-installation misalignment of the outer ring axis must be strictly controlled to prevent contact stress concentration.

5. Separable inner or outer rings facilitate installation and disassembly.