Mounted bearing units are available with most types of plain and rolling-element bearings. They are convenient and economical, and reduce the time spent selecting and preparing bearing elements, housings, seals, and mounting methods. "Mounted bearings" units are available off-the-shelf and the only basic selection information generally necessary is shaft size, radial and thrust load, load characteristics, speed, mounting limitations, and environment.

Besides providing a pre-engineered support housing for the bearing, mounted bearing units also provide a reservoir for lubricant storage. This reservoir extends relubrication intervals, or may serve as a lubricant supply for the life of the bearing. Mounted plain bearings are available in plain-bored, cast iron, solid pillow blocks; babbitt-lined, solid and split pillow blocks; flange bearings and take ups; bronze-bushed split pillow blocks and take ups; solid-film and self-lubricating bushed pillow blocks; and hydrodynamic and hydrostatic pillow blocks.

The first step in selecting a mounted bearing is determining shaft size, which considers bending and torsional load. However, overhung loads or loads between large centers may require large shaft diameters, while bearing loads are light. If so, consider light-duty bearings or machining shaft ends for smaller bearings. However, shafting is not always chosen on an optimum engineering basis. Design standardization, available stock sizes, and similar factors may dictate size.

The Boston Gear mounted bearing line is one of the most comprehensive available from one source in the industry - and they all feature Boston Gear's tradition of design excellence and precision manufacturing. Our mounted bearings offer a simple, convenient method of providing support for your rotating loads. 

Selection for most applications is easily accomplished from one selection chart, based on shaft size, radial and thrust load, speed, and life required. Installation normally requires bolting the unit to a suitable mounting surface and securing the bearing to the shaft with the setscrews or eccentric locking collar supplied with the bearing.

The method of securing the bearing to the shaft is determined by considering performance vs. cost. Ease of installation is important to the builder and the maintainer. Maintenance of other portions of a machine may require bearing disassembly. Thus, bearings and bearing assemblies that can be easily installed and disassembled should be used when frequent disassembly is expected.