NU206 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The NU206 is a ISO 15 radial bearing sized 30 x 62 x 16 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 30 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 62 mm |
| Width B | 16 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | polymer (PA66 glass-fibre reinforced) |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 44 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 36.5 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 4.5 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 13000 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 14000 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 200 g |
| Manufacturer designation | NU 206 ECP |
| Standard | ISO 15 |
| Catalog version | SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 6.1 single-row cylindrical roller bearings |
| Last verified | 2026-09-26 |
Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 6.1 single-row cylindrical roller bearings) · extracted 2026-09-26
Parameters extracted from the official SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 6.1 single-row cylindrical roller bearings); SKF® and SKF Explorer® are trademarks of AB SKF, used here for identification only — mpnbase is not an authorized SKF distributor. Boundary dimensions are ISO 15 interchangeable; current production values may differ, verify at skf.com.
Dimensions in inches & NU200-series range
| Bore d | 1.181 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 2.441 in |
| Width B | 0.63 in |
| ISO bore code | 06 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 16 mm |
| Smallest bore in NU200-series | 15 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in NU200-series | 580 mm |
| Width range across NU200-series | 11–92 mm |
| Bore position in NU200-series (smallest first) | 5 of 36 |
| Bore above smallest NU200-series size | 15 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6206 | SKF | verify Commonly quoted cross reference; confirm against the target catalog before ordering. | Identical envelope but a different bearing type — confirm load and speed suitability before substitution. |
| 6206-2RS | SKF | verify Commonly quoted cross reference; confirm against the target catalog before ordering. | Identical envelope but a different bearing type — confirm load and speed suitability before substitution. |
| 6206-RSR | SKF | verify Commonly quoted cross reference; confirm against the target catalog before ordering. | Identical envelope but a different bearing type — confirm load and speed suitability before substitution. |
| 6206-ZZ | SKF | verify Commonly quoted cross reference; confirm against the target catalog before ordering. | Identical envelope but a different bearing type — confirm load and speed suitability before substitution. |
| N206-ECP | SKF | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | Same ISO 15 boundary envelope and equivalent catalogue ratings; SKF N 206 ECP is a different execution with its own cage/flange configuration. |
| NJ206-ECP | SKF | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | Same ISO 15 boundary envelope and equivalent catalogue ratings; SKF NJ 206 ECP is a different execution with its own cage/flange configuration. |
| NUP206-ECP | SKF | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | Same ISO 15 boundary envelope and equivalent catalogue ratings; SKF NUP 206 ECP is a different execution with its own cage/flange configuration. |
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 NU206 model number is decoded
NU206 is a single-row cylindrical roller bearing in the NU200 family: line-contact rollers between ground inner and outer raceways, separated by a glass-fibre reinforced polyamide (PA66) cage, listed by SKF in SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000. Digit by digit, NU206 reads as bearing type NU (single-row, inner ring separable), standard series 2, and bore reference 06 resolving to 30 mm; 62 mm OD and 16 mm width are the matching ISO 15 boundary values. The SKF catalogue adds the ECP suffix for the standard glass-fibre reinforced polyamide cage; ECJ (pressed steel) and ECM (machined brass) are alternative executions with different speed and temperature ratings. Selection arithmetic: the C0/C ratio is about 0.83 (static 36.5 kN against dynamic 44 kN), typical of a cylindrical roller sized for high radial capacity, and the 4.5 kN fatigue load limit Pu is the equivalent-load floor used in the life calculation. Fit selection follows the rotating ring — interference on a rotating inner ring — and the outer ring is free to slide axially in the housing; a 30 mm shaft typically takes a k5 seat with an H7 housing bore.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- industrial gearbox input/output shafts
- pump and compressor drive shafts
- electric-motor shafts in pumps and fans
- machine-tool main spindles (radial set)
Known failure patterns
- inner-ring raceway spalling from overload or contamination in the line-contact hertz zone
- outer-ring raceway fatigue after extended service at loads above the catalogue L10 rating
- polymer cage cracking or softening after sustained running above 120 °C or with incompatible lubricant
- surface distress (micro-pitting) when the EHL film falls below the composite roughness at high specific load
- edge loading from shaft deflection beyond the bearing alignment limit (≈ 3-4 minutes of arc for single-row CRB)
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- On this 30 mm bore, thermal expansion of the shaft can preload the inner ring if the fit is too tight; calculate the residual interference at operating temperature and confirm the outer ring can still slide axially in the housing.
- The NU200 series at 30 mm bore (62×16 mm) is the standard-section cylindrical roller envelope; stepping to a wide-section 22/23 variant changes OD, width and heat generation — it is not a drop-in swap when the housing and speed are fixed.
- The 200 g mass and 16 mm width mean abutment faces must be square to the axis within the bearing's own P0 tolerance; a tilted spacer tilts the outer ring and concentrates load on one roller row of NU206.
- Open NU206 units need application-supplied sealing and a defined lubricant supply; the line-contact hertz stress is higher than point contact, so film thickness is the first failure mode when viscosity drops.
- The 44/36.5 kN ratings are SKF catalogue 17000 values for the ECP polymer-cage execution; SKF can revise internal geometry without changing the order number, so keep the catalogue version (PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN, 2018) with the specification and re-verify for critical drives.
- SKF lists several executions of NU206 (ECP polymer cage, ECJ pressed steel, ECM machined brass); they are not interchangeable order numbers — quote the full NU 206 ECP designation when purchasing and match the execution to the speed and temperature requirements.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions and catalogue data of NU206?
The NU 206 ECP is a single-row cylindrical roller bearing with 30 mm bore, 62 mm outer diameter and 16 mm width (1.181 × 2.441 × 0.63 in) per ISO 15. From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: basic dynamic load rating C 44 kN, C0 36.5 kN, fatigue load limit Pu 4.5 kN, reference speed 13,000 r/min, limiting speed 14,000 r/min, mass about 200 g. It is an open, separable bearing with a glass-fibre reinforced polyamide cage.
How does the NU206 bore code work?
The last two digits of NU206 are bore code 06, so 06 × 5 = 30 mm bore. The 62 mm OD and 16 mm width come from the ISO 15 dimension-series plan, shared with other cylindrical bearings of the same code.
What does the ECP suffix mean on NU206?
ECP stands for a glass-fibre reinforced polyamide cage (PA66), the SKF standard for this size. Alternative executions include ECJ (pressed steel cage) and ECM (machined brass cage), which have different speed and temperature ratings and are separate order numbers.
Can NU206 take axial load?
No — the NU design has no ribs on the outer ring and cannot support axial load in either direction. It is intended for pure radial load with axial location provided by adjacent components. If axial location is required, consider NJ (one-direction) or NUP (two-direction) variants, or pair the NU bearing with a thrust or angular-contact bearing.
How does NU206 compare with a ball bearing of the same bore?
A cylindrical roller bearing has line contact and much higher radial capacity than a ball bearing of the same bore, but it cannot take axial load in the NU design and is sensitive to misalignment (≈ 3–4 minutes of arc). Speed limits are generally lower than deep-groove ball bearings. A ball bearing cannot be dropped into a pure radial cylindrical-roller position without re-checking life and deflection, and vice versa.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 6.1 single-row cylindrical roller bearings on 2026-09-26. Read our editorial & correction policy.