Thrust ball bearings are a type of rotary bearing that support axial loads and lower friction:
Design
Thrust ball bearings are made of rolling elements mounted in a cage between two washers, which can be flat or grooved. The grooved washers have raceways to allow for more accurate rotation.
Purpose
Thrust ball bearings are designed to help a machine's rotating components move along a fixed shaft or axis. They transfer thrust loads placed on the shaft and limit axial shaft drift.
Applications
Thrust ball bearings are used in many industries, including automotive, marine, aerospace, food and beverage processing, medical devices, handheld machine tools, and RC helicopters.
Speed and load
Thrust ball bearings can operate at higher speeds than roller thrust bearings, but at lower applied loads.
Thrust ball bearings are classified as "flat seat" or "aligning seat" based on the shape of the housing washer. They can also be single-direction or double-direction.
