SKF 7312 BECBM Angular Contact Ball Bearing, 60 mm

A 60 mm bore single row angular contact bearing for combined radial and axial load

The SKF 7312 BECBM is a single row angular contact ball bearing with a 60 mm bore, 130 mm outside diameter and 31 mm width. The balls contact the raceways at an angle (SKF quotes a 40 degree contact angle for its single row Explorer angular contact bearings), so the bearing accommodates radial load and axial load acting at the same time, with the axial load in one direction only. For that reason it is normally mounted against a second bearing, either as an adjusted pair or in a locating position opposite another bearing.

This type is chosen where a deep groove bearing would not carry enough axial force: pump shafts, compressor and gearbox shafts, and machines that need a stiff, accurate axial location. The Explorer class gives the bearing the high load capacity, high speed capability and low heat generation that SKF describes for the series.

Technical specifications

Designation decoding and pairing

In 7312 BECBM, 7 is the single row angular contact type, 3 the dimension series (a heavy section) and 12 the bore code, giving 60 mm. In the SKF Explorer brochure the universally matchable bearings are described as having a tolerance as narrow as plus or minus 3 micrometres, so that when two bearings are mounted adjacent to each other in random order a given clearance, preload or even load distribution is obtained without shims. The brochure also lists a machined brass cage option, identified by the suffix M.

Pairs can be arranged back to back, face to face or in tandem. A back-to-back or face-to-face pair accommodates axial load in both directions, while tandem pairs share a heavy one-directional load. The product page lists an axial load factor A of 0.08, a minimum radial load factor kr of 0.1 and a limiting value e of 1.1, which feed the equivalent-load calculation for a single bearing or a tandem pair.

Mounting and ordering notes

Because the bearing takes axial load in one direction only, the design must provide a counter-bearing; the axial load must be directed toward the side the bearing is designed to take, so check the orientation before assembly. The distance from the side face to the pressure point is 55 mm, which is used when calculating shaft deflection and moment loads. Keep the shaft shoulder diameter at least 72 mm and the housing shoulders within the abutment limits in the table.

Before ordering, confirm the arrangement (single, pair, number of bearings), the preload or clearance class, the cage and the lubricant. Related items on this site include the SKF TKSA 41 laser shaft alignment tool for checking pump and motor couplings; see Electric Motors for other bearings.

Documents and quotation

The attached brochure, SKF Explorer angular contact ball bearings, explains the raceway-shoulder design, the cage upgrades and the universal matching, but it does not list this designation; the figures in the table come from the SKF product page. Send the designation, quantity and arrangement for a quotation from Seven Star LLC, an independent supplier.