NF232 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The NF232 is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 160 x 290 x 48 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | NTN |
| Bore diameter d | 160 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 290 mm |
| Width B | 48 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | steel |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 475 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 570 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 54.5 kN |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 2300 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 13400 g |
| Manufacturer designation | NTN NF232 |
| 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 | 6.299 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 11.417 in |
| Width B | 1.89 in |
| ISO bore code | 32 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 65 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) | 24 of 34 |
| Bore above smallest NF200-series size | 140 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| NF232 | 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 NF232 model number is decoded
NF232 is an NTN NF cylindrical roller bearing: one integral rib on each ring — separable inner ring with single-direction axial guidance and a defined shaft position, inside the 160×290×48 mm ISO 15 envelope. The leading NF defines the rib arrangement (one rib on each ring); the dimension-series digits and the two-digit bore code resolve to 160 mm, with 290 mm OD and 48 mm width from the ISO 15 general plan. With C 475 kN and C0 570 kN (C0/C ≈ 1.20) the bearing is proportioned for heavy radial load; the NF design gives one-direction axial guidance via its single outer-ring rib. With the inner ring rotating, catalogue practice is a m6/n6 shaft seat and an H7/H6 housing; the outer ring must remain free to creep slightly axially in non-locating NF arrangements. On NF arrangements confirm which ring is separable before heating: forcing the ribbed ring off over the roller complement damages the cage and rib faces.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- heavy press and large gearbox main shafts
- rolling-mill work-roll and backup-roll positions
- large turbine and generator rotor bearings
- wind-turbine gearbox planet and rotor shafts
Known failure patterns
- roller smearing (microwelding) at start-up before the oil film builds under insufficient radial load
- cage distortion after a mounting blow carried through the roller set
- micro-pitting when the EHL film falls below the composite roughness at high specific load
- brinelling from static overload or impact during handling
- edge loading from shaft deflection beyond the 3–4 arc-minute alignment limit
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- At 160 mm bore, oil-lubricated arrangements toward 2,700 r/min need positive flow and drain design; the 13400 g NF232 ring stores enough heat that grease-only duty needs a careful relubrication calculation.
- Minimum radial load is frequently missed in oversized motor and fan selections: an underloaded NF232 skids at 2,300 r/min and fails by smearing long before L10 fatigue.
- Do not replace NF232 with a deep-groove ball bearing on rating alone: line contact gives 475 kN radial capacity but the bearing cannot carry the thrust duty a ball bearing can and misalignment tolerance is only 3–4 arc-minutes.
- The NF rib arrangement is not interchangeable with another prefix on the same 160 mm seat: one rib on each ring. Swapping NU for NJ changes axial location behaviour even though the 290×48 mm envelope matches.
- Minimum radial load is frequently missed in oversized motor and fan selections: an underloaded NF232 skids at 2,300 r/min and fails by smearing long before L10 fatigue.
- The 475/570 kN ratings, 54.5 kN Pu and 13400 g mass are NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E values for NF232 (standard 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 NF232?
NF232 is an NTN NF single-row cylindrical roller bearing to ISO 15: 160 mm bore, 290 mm OD and 48 mm width (6.299 × 11.417 × 1.89 in). From NTN Ball and Roller Bearings CAT.No.2203E: C 475 kN, C0 570 kN, Pu 54.5 kN, grease limiting speed 2,300 r/min, oil 2,700 r/min, mass about 13400 g. It is open, with a 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. NF232 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. NF232 is supplied in the standard open execution shown in the table.
Can NF232 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 NF232?
Fw is the inner sub-assembly raceway/roller-set envelope diameter and Ew the outer-ring raceway diameter printed for geometric checks: Fw 195 mm, Ew 255 mm. The nominal bore/OD remain 160/290 mm; Fw/Ew describe the rolling-contact path, and speeds still run to 2,300 r/min grease / 2,700 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.