NKI10-16 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The NKI10-16 is a DIN 616 radial bearing sized 10 x 22 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 | 10 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 22 mm |
| Width B | 16 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | none |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 10.2 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 12.5 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 1.5 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 24000 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 28000 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 29 g |
| Manufacturer designation | NKI 10/16 |
| Standard | DIN 616 |
| Catalog version | SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 7.4 machined rings with flanges, with an inner ring |
| Last verified | 2026-09-26 |
Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 7.4 machined rings with flanges, with 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. 7.4 machined rings with flanges, with 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 & NKI-series range
| Bore d | 0.394 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 0.866 in |
| Width B | 0.63 in |
| ISO bore code | — |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 6 mm |
| Smallest bore in NKI-series | 5 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in NKI-series | 130 mm |
| Width range across NKI-series | 12–40 mm |
| Bore position in NKI-series (smallest first) | 5 of 30 |
| Bore above smallest NKI-series size | 5 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
No verified interchange data yet. Send an inquiry and our team will confirm equivalents manually.
How the NKI10-16 model number is decoded
NKI 10/16 is a machined-ring needle roller bearing with an inner ring: flanged outer ring plus a separate 10 mm bore inner ring, so the shaft seat needs only ordinary tolerance, as tabulated by SKF in SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000. In SKF nomenclature the leading letters mark a machined-ring needle bearing with inner ring: figures state 10 mm d and 16 mm B, the 22 mm outside diameter from the machined-ring needle roller bearings with inner ring, and the 2RS suffix would add contact seals. TN polymer cage executions run quieter and tolerate grease-lubricated pivot duty; steel cage executions remain the choice for higher temperature or oil-bath lubrication. Selection arithmetic: C 10.2 kN against C0 12.5 kN gives a C0/C ratio of 1.23, and the 1.5 kN fatigue load limit Pu sets the floor for the adjusted-life calculation at contaminated lubrication. Because the inner ring is separable, mount it first against its shoulder, then slide the outer ring and roller set over it — the order avoids forcing rollers across the shaft threads or burrs.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- gearbox shafts where the journal cannot be hardened on site
- wheel and lever pivots needing a replaceable inner ring
- conveyor roller ends and return rollers
- agricultural implement pivots and cutter heads
Known failure patterns
- needle edge loading and raceway denting when the shaft deflects beyond the compensation range
- polymer cage deformation when the local temperature exceeds the 120 °C sustained limit
- abrasive paste formation from dust ingressing past open ends without effective housing seals
- brinelling of raceways from impact or pressing force transmitted through the rolling elements
- inner-ring bore fretting on a loose shaft seat, migrating hard particles into the rolling contact
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- On a 10 mm seat the housing bore quality dominates life: a bore 0.02 mm out of round pinches the 22 mm ring or cup into a lobed shape, and the rollers then trace the housing's geometry error, not the design load.
- Contamination, not fatigue, kills most small needle bearings: with raceways this narrow, one hard particle dents a full-width line — seal the housing even when the bearing execution itself is open.
- Do not interchange envelope-identical needle families blindly: NKI 10/16 shares its 10×22×16 mm outline with inner-ring and sealed siblings whose ratings differ — the family letters are part of the specification, not decoration.
- The 10.2/12.5 kN ratings and 29 g mass are SKF catalogue values transcribed from ch. 7.4 of PUB BU/P1 17000 (PDF table page 638); combined-type axial ratings appear in the text above because the structured record carries radial values only.
Frequently asked questions
What does NKI 10/16 mean in SKF part numbering?
The letters mark a machined-ring needle roller bearing with inner ring: 10 mm bore, 16 mm width, 22 mm OD per the series plan. The hardened inner ring is the raceway, so an ordinary k5 shaft seat suffices.
Does the NKI 10/16 need a hardened and ground shaft?
Yes — that is the point of this family. The NKI 10/16 carries its own hardened, ground inner ring on a 10 mm seat, so the shaft needs only a normal k5/j6 finish. The inner ring is separable and replaceable.
What mounting mistakes ruin a NKI 10/16?
Mount the inner ring on the 10 mm seat first (induction heat, max 120 °C, or press), then fit the flanged outer ring into the H7 housing bore. Verify free rotation and, for 2RS executions, check the wider outer ring against the housing depth.
Is the NKI 10/16 sealed?
No — the open execution relies on housing seals; 2RS executions of the 49 series add contact seals with a wider outer ring as a separate order number.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 7.4 machined rings with flanges, with an inner ring on 2026-09-26. Read our editorial & correction policy.