NK12-16 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The NK12-16 is a DIN 616 radial bearing sized 12 x 19 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 | 12 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 19 mm |
| Width B | 16 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | none |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 9.13 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 12 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 1.43 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 26000 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 30000 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 16 g |
| Manufacturer designation | NK 12/16 |
| Standard | DIN 616 |
| Catalog version | SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 7.3 machined rings with flanges, without an inner ring |
| Last verified | 2026-09-26 |
Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 7.3 machined rings with flanges, without an inner ring) · extracted 2026-09-26
Parameters extracted from the official SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 7.3 machined rings with flanges, without an inner ring); 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 & NK-series range
| Bore d | 0.472 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 0.748 in |
| Width B | 0.63 in |
| ISO bore code | — |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 3.5 mm |
| Smallest bore in NK-series | 5 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in NK-series | 130 mm |
| Width range across NK-series | 10–40 mm |
| Bore position in NK-series (smallest first) | 7 of 46 |
| Bore above smallest NK-series size | 7 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
No verified interchange data yet. Send an inquiry and our team will confirm equivalents manually.
How the NK12-16 model number is decoded
NK 12/16 belongs to the machined-ring needle roller family: an outer ring turned and ground to 19 mm with two retaining flanges, a roller-and-cage set inside, and envelope 12×19×16 mm on a hardened 12 mm shaft. Reading the designation: NK gives the series and the numbers the boundary plan — 12 mm Fw for the shaft seat, 16 mm width; the 19 mm OD comes from the dimension series, and the absence of an inner ring is built into the family name. The machined ring is through-hardened and ground on OD, bore-side raceway and faces; the flanged lip design means the housing shoulder can be omitted — the ring clamps axially between housing wall and cover washer. Catalogue mass 16 g at 12×19×16 mm makes this one of the highest capacity-per-gram choices in the machined-ring needle roller bearings without inner ring; the limit is usually the shaft's ability to serve as a raceway, not the rolling contact itself. Grease through the housing groove before fitting the shaft; the integral flanges hold the grease film at the roller ends, which is where these bearings first starve.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- cam followers built up from separate components
- crank pins and eccentrics where the hardened journal is the raceway
- gearbox planetary and idler gears on hardened pins
- piston-pin style pivots in hydraulic pumps
Known failure patterns
- needle edge loading and raceway denting when the shaft deflects beyond the compensation range
- cage pocket wear and roller skew after sustained operation with too little radial preload
- abrasive paste formation from dust ingressing past open ends without effective housing seals
- electrical erosion on VFD-driven shafts without brush or insulated mounting
- smearing of rollers and journal during idle periods because the radial section holds too little lubricant
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- On a 12 mm seat the housing bore quality dominates life: a bore 0.02 mm out of round pinches the 19 mm ring or cup into a lobed shape, and the rollers then trace the housing's geometry error, not the design load.
- The quoted 9.13/12 kN ratings are SKF catalogue values for this exact execution (NK 12/16); ratings can be revised without the order number changing, so keep the catalogue version (SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000) with the drawing.
- Oscillating pivots fail differently: rocking through a small angle concentrates wear in the same roller positions — inspect those zones, and consider rotating the assembly's clock position at service intervals.
- The 9.13/12 kN ratings and 16 g mass are SKF catalogue values transcribed from ch. 7.3 of PUB BU/P1 17000 (PDF table page 626); combined-type axial ratings appear in the text above because the structured record carries radial values only.
Frequently asked questions
Does the NK 12/16 need a hardened and ground shaft?
No. In this execution the 12 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 NK 12/16?
Press on the ring faces only with a fitting sleeve, keep everything square to the 12 mm seat, and never transmit force through the rolling elements. Follow the catalogue's seat tolerances — the narrow needle contact forgives neither tilt nor burrs.
Is the NK 12/16 sealed?
No — this execution is open and depends on the housing sealing arrangement; grease it at assembly and keep the relubrication interval short in dirty duty.
Which dimensions does the NK 12/16 have?
A NK 12/16 measures 12 mm bore/Fw × 19 mm outside diameter × 16 mm width (0.472 × 0.748 × 0.63 in). From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: radial dynamic rating C 9.13 kN, static C0 12 kN, fatigue limit Pu 1.43 kN, limiting speed 30,000 r/min, reference speed 26,000 r/min, mass about 16 g.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 7.3 machined rings with flanges, without an inner ring on 2026-09-26. Read our editorial & correction policy.