HK6012 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The HK6012 is a ISO 3245 radial bearing sized 60 x 68 x 12 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 60 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 68 mm |
| Width B | 12 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | none |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 17.6 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 32 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 3.8 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 4300 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 4800 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 49 g |
| Manufacturer designation | HK 6012 |
| Standard | ISO 3245 |
| Catalog version | SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 7.2 drawn cup needle roller bearings |
| Last verified | 2026-09-26 |
Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 7.2 drawn cup needle 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. 7.2 drawn cup needle 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 & HK-series range
| Bore d | 2.362 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 2.677 in |
| Width B | 0.472 in |
| ISO bore code | 12 |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 4 mm |
| Smallest bore in HK-series | 3 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in HK-series | 68 mm |
| Width range across HK-series | 6–38 mm |
| Bore position in HK-series (smallest first) | 26 of 26 |
| Bore above smallest HK-series size | 57 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| HK6012 | ISO 15 | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | ISO 15 boundary-dimension envelope; standard interchange — confirm clearance class and precision with the supplier. |
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 HK6012 model number is decoded
For a 60 mm shaft in a thin housing wall, SKF catalogue execution HK 6012 offers a 12 mm wide, 68 mm diameter pressed shell with caged needle rollers — the classic minimal-section drawn cup solution. The designation HK 6012 encodes geometry only — there is no bore code to decode, since the 60 mm Fw is printed directly in the first digits and the cup width 12 mm in the last two. Open caged execution: the standard HK drawn cup with steel cage, relubricable through the shaft where the housing allows. The suffix TN denotes the glass fibre reinforced PA66 cage; the 2RS execution adds rubber contact seals on both faces, retaining factory grease for life-lubricated pivots. The 49 g catalogue mass and 4.0 mm radial section ((68−60)/2) frame a rating of about 0.29 kN dynamic per millimetre of bore — the needle construction's density advantage over ball bearings of the same envelope. Mounting: press the cup in with a shouldered mandrel against the stamped end face only — through-the-rollers pressing brinells both raceways; the housing bore takes a firm press fit and the shaft slides in after.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- spindle clusters of drilling and tapping units
- auto steering gear rack supports
- clutch release mechanisms and cable pulleys
- office equipment and power tool gear trains
Known failure patterns
- needle edge loading and raceway denting when the shaft deflects beyond the compensation range
- fretting corrosion of the cup outside diameter in a soft or oversized housing bore
- grease starvation at the roller ends when relubrication intervals are stretched in dirty duty
- corrosion pitting from condensation in intermittently operated machinery
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- Above 50 mm bore, thermal growth matters: the 60 mm inner ring or journal grows with temperature faster than the housing, and the small clearance of a needle roller contact leaves little reserve — check running clearance hot, not just at assembly.
- Reference and limiting speeds are different limits: the 4,300 r/min reference is the thermal criterion under load, The limiting value is mechanical; the reference value is thermal under load, and grease choice moves it substantially.
- Hardness is load capacity: in families without an inner ring the 60 mm journal must hold 58–64 HRC with a ground finish; a surface that looks fine but sits at 45 HRC will rib the raceway within weeks.
- The 17.6/32 kN ratings and 49 g mass are SKF catalogue values transcribed from ch. 7.2 of PUB BU/P1 17000 (PDF table page 624); combined-type axial ratings appear in the text above because the structured record carries radial values only.
Frequently asked questions
Which dimensions does the HK 6012 have?
A HK 6012 measures 60 mm bore/Fw × 68 mm outside diameter × 12 mm width (2.362 × 2.677 × 0.472 in). From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: radial dynamic rating C 17.6 kN, static C0 32 kN, fatigue limit Pu 3.8 kN, limiting speed 4,800 r/min, reference speed 4,300 r/min, mass about 49 g.
What does HK 6012 mean in SKF part numbering?
HK = open-end drawn cup needle roller bearing (ISO 3245); the first two digits give Fw 60 mm, the last two the width 12 mm, the shell OD 68 mm follows the plan. 2RS adds both-side contact seals, TN the polymer cage.
Does the HK 6012 need a hardened and ground shaft?
No. In this execution the 60 mm shaft journal is the inner raceway: it must be ground and hardened to 58–64 HRC (with matching housing bore quality on the outside). If the shaft cannot meet that, order the inner-ring sibling (NKI/NA execution) plus its ground inner ring instead.
What mounting mistakes ruin a HK 6012?
Press the cup in with a shouldered mandrel bearing on the stamped face, into a housing bore sized for a firm press fit; never hammer it or press through the rollers. Then slide the hardened shaft in. For 2RS executions the seals and grease are already in place — no additional sealing is needed.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 7.2 drawn cup needle roller bearings on 2026-09-26. Read our editorial & correction policy.