6201-RSR-NSK bearing: complete specifications & equivalents

Specification table

Source: catalog reference (NSK Rolling Bearings E1103 Part C) · extracted 2026-09-24

Cross references & equivalents

Interchange levels: full standard interchange · partial verify parameters · verify manual confirmation required. Links resolve to the equivalent model's specification page where available.

How the 6201-RSR-NSK model number is decoded

6201-RSR uses two non-contact elastomer lips with very low drag; coarse debris stays out, but the bearing is not liquid-tight. Within the light 62xx section (diameter series 2 of ISO 15), multiplying bore code 12 by five gives the 12 mm bore; the 32 mm outside diameter and 10 mm width follow the same boundary-dimension plan. For a rotating inner ring on a 12 mm shaft under normal load, catalogue practice seats it on a j5 shaft fit with an H7 housing bore — confirm against the actual load direction and magnitude before committing. NSK's non-contact seal suffix is VV (catalogue number 6201VV), mapped here from the industry-neutral -RSR spelling; speed capability is close to the open bearing but VV is not liquid-tight.

Typical equipment & failure modes

Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute

• Interference on a 12 mm shaft plus running heat consumes radial clearance: where the shaft runs hot or the fit is tight, order 6201 with C3 clearance and re-check the residual value after mounting.
• At 12 mm bore the 62xx light series is the workhorse section; its 32×10 mm envelope is what most motor and gearbox seats are machined for, so any alternative section must be checked against both this OD and this width, not the bore alone.
• The low-drag lip of 6201-RSR-NSK barely touches the inner ring; after long shelf storage the grease can separate, so rotate the rings by hand and confirm smooth, silent running before fitting.
• The non-contact lip of 6201-RSR-NSK does not retain a lifetime grease fill the way a contact seal does; confirm the regreasing interval for the 12 mm bore position before relying on it as sealed-for-life.
• The housing bore for the 32 mm OD should be round within IT7; an oval bore pinches the outer ring of 6201-RSR-NSK and shows up later as two-point loaded raceway wear.
• Shaft and housing fillets must clear the bearing chamfer so the 10 mm-wide ring seats square; provide an undercut or withdrawal groove instead of relying on an oversized radius.
• NSK catalogues this low-friction non-contact seal as 6201VV (suffix VV), mapped here from the industry-neutral -RSR spelling. NSK rates its speed capability close to the open bearing, but VV is not liquid-tight — for wet or fine-dust duty step up to the DDU contact seal (industry-neutral -2RS).
• At 12 mm bore the 6201 sits in NSK's small-bore range; NSK ships these sizes with a pressed-steel cage and P0 tolerance as standard, and NSK's EA (extra-precision) or P5 class is a special-order upgrade for spindle duty — do not assume catalogue P0 figures hold for instrument use without an NSK engineering check.
• NSK rates 6201 at 7.5 kN dynamic (C) and 3.05 kN static (C0); this light-to-medium rating suits fractional-horsepower drives and instruments — for conveying or gearbox duty with shock loads, verify the equivalent dynamic load stays well below C.
• At only 37 g, 6201 is a lightweight NSK bearing that can be handled by hand; still, press it onto the shaft with a sleeve against the inner ring — never through the balls or outer ring.
• The 12×32×10 mm envelope of 6201 gives a D/d ratio of 2.67 and 10.0 mm radial section height — a heavy NSK section built for high-load, lower-speed duty; specifying it in a high-rpm motor generates excess heat and shortens grease life, so prefer a 62/63-series there.
• The 7.5/3.05 kN load ratings, mass 37 g here are NSK Rolling Bearings E1103 Part C catalogue figures for 6201VV on the 12×32×10 mm ISO 15 envelope; internal geometry and ratings legitimately differ between brands, so re-verify before substituting another manufacturer's 6201 in a rated drive. NSK does not tabulate reference or limiting speeds in the E1103 Part C dimension tables used for this page — consult NSK's separate speed-rating tables before high-speed service.
• When replacing a failed unit, inspect the shaft and housing seats before fitting the new 6201 — a new bearing pressed onto a worn or oval seat reproduces the original failure mode in a fraction of its expected life.
• NSK does not recommend washing new shielded or sealed bearings; the rust-preventive film on open units is compatible with standard lithium greases and needs no removal unless the application demands a special fill.