AXK0515-TN bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The AXK0515-TN is a ISO 3031 radial bearing sized 5 x 15 x 2 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 5 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 15 mm |
| Width B | 2 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | polymer (PA66 glass-fibre reinforced) |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 4.5 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 9.5 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 1.08 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 6700 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 14000 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 0.8 g |
| Manufacturer designation | AXK 0515 TN |
| Standard | ISO 3031 |
| Catalog version | SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 12.1 needle roller and cage thrust assemblies |
| Last verified | 2026-09-27 |
Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 12.1 needle roller and cage thrust assemblies) · extracted 2026-09-27
Parameters extracted from the official SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 12.1 needle roller and cage thrust assemblies); 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 & AXK-series range
| Bore d | 0.197 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 0.591 in |
| Width B | 0.079 in |
| ISO bore code | 15 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 5 mm |
| Smallest bore in AXK-series | 4 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in AXK-series | 200 mm |
| Width range across AXK-series | 2–5 mm |
| Bore position in AXK-series (smallest first) | 2 of 30 |
| Bore above smallest AXK-series size | 1 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
No verified interchange data yet. Send an inquiry and our team will confirm equivalents manually.
How the AXK0515-TN model number is decoded
For transmission gears that would otherwise rub on a housing wall, AXK 0515 TN supplies a complete needle thrust track between 6 and 14 mm raceway diameters in a 2 mm envelope. SKF prints the AXK sizes as adjacent figures, so 05/15 reads 5 then 15 mm; the assembly has no washers of its own — order AS/LS washers or harden the mating faces. The thin section tolerates no misalignment: keep the mating faces parallel, and use the AXW spigot-flanged execution where a one-piece, housing-centred cage-plus-washer unit simplifies assembly. Speed planning separates the 6,700 r/min thermal reference from the 14,000 r/min mechanical limiting speed. Thrust bearings govern the thermal speed of many vertical arrangements, and oil circulation raises the usable speed substantially above grease values. Keep the assembly concentric with a shaft shoulder or the housing register — a needle set walking radially off its track is the most common failure; the AXW flanged version removes this risk entirely.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- torque converter and clutch release assemblies in passenger cars
- small gearbox gears that need a 2 mm thrust shim between a shaft and face
- light turntables, index plates and office-machine pivots
- two-wheeler gearbox selector and layshaft thrust faces
Known failure patterns
- needle-row denting from a single hard particle trapped in the 2 mm section
- roller skidding and raceway glazing once the thrust falls below the catalogue minimum axial load (factor A)
- abrasive paste forming as dust bypasses the housing seals into the open washer set
- electrical erosion of raceways on VFD-driven shafts without grounding or insulation
- instant raceway scoring when the assembly runs against a face below 58 HRC or with a rough finish
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- The AXK 0515 TN is watchmaking-scale (2 mm thick, 0.8 g): handle it with tweezers, grease it onto its washer, and assume one dropped or cocked assembly is one ruined bearing.
- Match washers by the exact 5–15 mm track — a washer sized to the shaft alone leaves the needles overrunning its edge, which shears the cage.
- the 6,700 r/min reference speed is the thermal criterion under load, the 14,000 r/min limiting speed assumes hardened, ground, oiled faces; soft or dry faces drop the real ceiling drastically.
- The 4.5 kN rating is real only at 58–64 HRC face hardness; visual inspection cannot tell a 45 HRC washer from a 60 HRC one — order certified washers.
- Do not expect misalignment tolerance: a 2 mm rigid needle set edge-loads if the faces tilt even a fraction of a degree — use a spherical or AXW solution where the seat cannot be kept parallel.
- The 4.5/9.5 kN ratings and 0.8 g mass are SKF catalogue values transcribed from ch. 12.1 of PUB BU/P1 17000 (PDF table page 908); mounting data — Ea/Eb raceway diameters and the minimum load factor A — appears in the running text because the structured record carries the boundary envelope only.
Frequently asked questions
Why does an AXK assembly fail early?
Almost always the track: missing/undersized washers, hardness below 58 HRC, a sharp shoulder edge catching the cage, or contamination in the thin section. Rating 4.5 kN assumes all of these are correct.
Which dimensions does the AXK 0515 TN have?
A AXK 0515 TN measures 5 mm bore × 15 mm outside diameter × 2 mm width (0.197 × 0.591 × 0.079 in). From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: dynamic C 4.5 kN, static C0 9.5 kN, fatigue limit Pu 1.08 kN, reference speed 6,700 r/min, limiting speed 14,000 r/min, mass about 0.8 g. The contact band runs Ea 6–Eb 14 mm; hardened washers or 58–64 HRC faces are required.
What does AXK 05/15 mean?
A needle roller and cage thrust assembly (ISO 3031) for a 5 mm inner track and 15 mm outer track, 2 mm thick; one-direction axial load, washers ordered separately.
What is the difference between AXK and AXW?
AXW pairs the AXK needle set with a washer carrying an integral centring spigot that locates in a housing register, keeping cage and washer concentric as one part; AXK is the bare cage-and-needle set needing two separate washers. The AXW still needs a separate LS/AS washer or hardened face on the opposite side.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 12.1 needle roller and cage thrust assemblies on 2026-09-27. Read our editorial & correction policy.