6201-ZZ-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-ZZ-NSK model number is decoded

6201-ZZ carries two non-contact sheet-steel shields that hold the factory grease in and keep coarse debris out; they do not seal against liquids. 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 catalogue order number: 6201ZZ (suffix ZZ), two non-contact steel shields, mapped here from the industry-neutral -ZZ spelling.

Typical equipment & failure modes

Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute

• At 12 mm bore, induction heating to roughly 80–100 °C is the clean mounting method; never exceed 120 °C, and hold 6201 against the shaft shoulder while it cools so the ring cannot creep back.
• The 62xx light series is the default general-purpose section at 12 mm bore; before upgrading to a 6312 for extra capacity, confirm the housing accepts a 32 mm OD and 10 mm width — it is not a drop-in swap.
• Do not wash 6201-ZZ-NSK in solvent before mounting: the grease inside the shielded cavity is the service fill, and solvent creeping past the shield gap strips it out.
• Shielded 6201-ZZ-NSK units are typically greased for life; prying the shields out for regreasing usually bends them and leaves a gap that throws grease in service.
• Never mix components between two 6201-ZZ-NSK units: rings, cage and balls are factory-matched and are not field-interchangeable, even between identical designations.
• Assign fits by which ring rotates: an interference shaft fit for a rotating inner ring; if the outer ring rotates instead, reverse the logic — a loose rotating ring creeps and frets its seat.
• NSK catalogues the shielded version as 6201ZZ — suffix ZZ, two non-contact steel shields. The industry-neutral page spelling is -ZZ; quote the NSK order number when buying through an NSK channel.
• 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 6201ZZ 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.
• NSK's VV non-contact seal keeps frictional torque close to the open 6201; in motor duty where heat build-up matters, VV is the usual compromise between debris protection and speed capability.
• Standard P0 runout from NSK is adequate up to the catalogue limiting speed on ground shaft seats; spindle or instrument positions should specify P6/P5 accuracy explicitly — it is a different order code, not a sorting of standard stock.