NF218EA bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The NF218EA is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 90 x 160 x 30 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | NTN |
| Bore diameter d | 90 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 160 mm |
| Width B | 30 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel, stamped ribbon (J-type) |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 215 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 217 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 24.7 kN |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 3900 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 2370 g |
| Manufacturer designation | NTN NF218EA |
| Standard | ISO 15 |
| Catalog version | NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E |
| Last verified | 2026-10-01 |
Source: catalog reference (NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E) · extracted 2026-10-01
Parameters extracted from the official NTN Ball and Roller Bearings catalogue (NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E); NTN® is a trademark of NTN Corporation, used here for identification only — mpnbase is not an authorized NTN distributor. Boundary dimensions are ISO 15 interchangeable; current production values may differ, verify at ntnglobal.com.
Dimensions in inches & NF200-series range
| Bore d | 3.543 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 6.299 in |
| Width B | 1.181 in |
| ISO bore code | — |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 35 mm |
| Smallest bore in NF200-series | 20 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in NF200-series | 580 mm |
| Width range across NF200-series | 14–92 mm |
| Bore position in NF200-series (smallest first) | 15 of 34 |
| Bore above smallest NF200-series size | 70 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| NF218EA | ISO 15 | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | ISO 15 boundary-dimension envelope; brand-specific OEM equivalents (NSK/FAG/NTN) pending multi-source data. |
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 NF218EA model number is decoded
For pure radial duty on a 90 mm shaft NTN supplies NF218EA: one integral rib on each ring; the open execution is rated 3,900 r/min on grease and 5,500 r/min on oil. The leading NF defines the rib arrangement (one rib on each ring); the dimension-series digits and the two-digit bore code resolve to 90 mm, with 160 mm OD and 30 mm width from the ISO 15 general plan. NTN prints two speed ceilings: 3,900 r/min grease and 5,500 r/min oil — the pressed-steel cage and lubricant film set the real limit at the 90 mm bore. With the inner ring rotating, catalogue practice is a k5/m5 shaft seat and an H7/H6 housing; the outer ring must remain free to creep slightly axially in non-locating NF arrangements. Keep the open bearing wrapped until fitting: the line-contact raceways of the 90 mm bore indent under a single hard particle, and the steel cage provides no sealing of its own.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- large pump, turbine and compressor rotors
- rolling-mill auxiliary drive shafts
- crusher and vibrating-screen drive shafts
- marine gearbox and deck-machinery shafts
Known failure patterns
- inner-ring raceway spalling from overload in the line-contact Hertzian zone
- pressed-steel cage pocket wear when rollers skid at light load or too-thin lubricant
- roller-end and raceway scoring from inadequate oil flow under heavy radial load
- fretting corrosion on a loose rotating shaft seat
- electrical pitting on VFD-driven motor shafts without grounding protection
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- Induction-heat the 90 mm inner ring (max 120 °C) and mount it before fitting the outer ring; the ring mass makes square guidance essential — driving through the rollers brinells the 160 mm raceway.
- Never press either ring through the roller complement when fitting: mounting force goes through the ring faces, or the 160 mm race brinells and releases as vibration within hours.
- The EA high-capacity roller complement changes the load figure versus the basic execution of the same number; the 215/217 kN pair here belongs to NF218EA as printed, not to the bare size.
- The NF rib arrangement is not interchangeable with another prefix on the same 90 mm seat: one rib on each ring. Swapping NU for NJ changes axial location behaviour even though the 160×30 mm envelope matches.
- If the shaft must be located both ways, do not use NF218EA alone: pair it with a locating bearing or specify the NUP execution with the matching loose rib ring from the 2203E table.
- The 215/217 kN ratings, 24.7 kN Pu and 2370 g mass are NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E values for NF218EA (EA pressed-steel-cage execution); other makes sharing the ISO 15 envelope revise internal geometry without changing the order number, so keep the 2203E reference with the specification for critical drives.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions and catalogue data of NF218EA?
NF218EA is an NTN NF single-row cylindrical roller bearing to ISO 15: 90 mm bore, 160 mm OD and 30 mm width (3.543 × 6.299 × 1.181 in). From NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E: C 215 kN, C0 217 kN, Pu 24.7 kN, grease limiting speed 3,900 r/min, oil 5,500 r/min, mass about 2370 g. It is open, with the EA high-capacity pressed sheet-steel cage.
What is the difference between NU, NJ, NUP, N and NF cylindrical roller bearings?
The prefix states the rib arrangement: NU has two outer-ring ribs and a ribless inner ring (float, no axial load); NJ adds ribs for one-direction location; NUP adds a loose L-ring to locate both directions; N has two inner-ring ribs and a separable outer ring; NF has one rib per ring for one-direction guidance. NF218EA is one integral rib on each ring — separable inner ring with single-direction axial guidance and a defined shaft position.
What do the EA, E and ＊ suffixes mean on NTN cylindrical roller bearings?
EA is NTN's high-capacity design with a pressed sheet-steel cage and optimised roller complement in the same ISO 15 envelope; E marks the high-capacity design at the larger bores; the ＊ symbol printed before the code in the NTN catalogue marks the ULTAGE new-generation specification and is not typed as part of the order number. This page's bearing carries the EA pressed-steel-cage execution.
Can NF218EA take axial load and locate a shaft?
the NF design gives one-direction axial guidance via its single outer-ring rib. The loose rib ring still only suits light/short-duration axial guidance; heavy thrust belongs to a dedicated thrust bearing.
What do Fw and Ew mean for NF218EA?
Fw is the inner sub-assembly raceway/roller-set envelope diameter and Ew the outer-ring raceway diameter printed for geometric checks: Fw 107 mm, Ew 145 mm. The nominal bore/OD remain 90/160 mm; Fw/Ew describe the rolling-contact path, and speeds still run to 3,900 r/min grease / 5,500 r/min oil.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E on 2026-10-01. Read our editorial & correction policy.