NK40-20-TN bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The NK40-20-TN is a DIN 616 radial bearing sized 40 x 50 x 20 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 40 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 50 mm |
| Width B | 20 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | polymer (PA66 glass-fibre reinforced) |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 29.7 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 60 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 7.5 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 10000 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 11000 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 78 g |
| Manufacturer designation | NK 40/20 TN |
| 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 | 1.575 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 1.969 in |
| Width B | 0.787 in |
| ISO bore code | — |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 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) | 27 of 46 |
| Bore above smallest NK-series size | 35 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
No verified interchange data yet. Send an inquiry and our team will confirm equivalents manually.
How the NK40-20-TN model number is decoded
Where the shaft can be hardened and ground, SKF offers NK 40/20 TN in the machined-ring needle roller bearings without inner ring: outer ring only, needle rollers caged between integral flanges, 40 mm bore seat and 50 mm OD. In SKF nomenclature NK families drop the inner ring: the numbers after the letters give the 40 mm under-roller diameter and the 20 mm width, with the 50 mm outside diameter set by the machined-ring needle roller bearings without inner ring plan. Execution notes: the outer ring flanges are rolled from the ring material (no loose ribs to dislodge), the roller set is caged for low friction, and the TN option swaps in a polymer cage for quieter running. For life calculation, the 29.7/60 kN ratings assume raceway geometry supplied by the shaft and housing in families without an inner ring — journal hardness, roundness and finish are part of the bearing, not of the application. 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
- guide rollers running on hardened tracks
- swing arms and lever pivots with oscillating duty
- cam followers built up from separate components
- crank pins and eccentrics where the hardened journal is the raceway
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
- grease starvation at the roller ends when relubrication intervals are stretched in dirty duty
- electrical erosion on VFD-driven shafts without brush or insulated mounting
- rapid raceway scoring when the shaft journal hardness drops below 58 HRC or the ground finish wears away
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- At 40 mm bore, verify shaft deflection against the needle length: these rollers tolerate little edge loading, and a simply supported span between 40 mm seats can bend past the compensation range long before the load rating is exhausted.
- The quoted 29.7/60 kN ratings are SKF catalogue values for this exact execution (NK 40/20 TN); 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 29.7/60 kN ratings and 78 g mass are SKF catalogue values transcribed from ch. 7.3 of PUB BU/P1 17000 (PDF table page 630); combined-type axial ratings appear in the text above because the structured record carries radial values only.
Frequently asked questions
What does NK 40/20 TN mean in SKF part numbering?
NK names a machined-ring needle roller bearing without inner ring: the figures give Fw 40 mm and width 20 mm, OD 50 mm comes from the dimension series, and the flanged outer ring retains the caged rollers.
Does the NK 40/20 TN need a hardened and ground shaft?
No. In this execution the 40 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 40/20 TN?
Press on the ring faces only with a fitting sleeve, keep everything square to the 40 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 40/20 TN 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.
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.