NKI15-16 bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The NKI15-16 is a DIN 616 radial bearing sized 15 x 27 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 | 15 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 27 mm |
| Width B | 16 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | none |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 13.4 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 19 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 2.28 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 20000 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 24000 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 39 g |
| Manufacturer designation | NKI 15/16 |
| 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 | 0.591 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 1.063 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) | 7 of 30 |
| Bore above smallest NKI-series size | 10 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
No verified interchange data yet. Send an inquiry and our team will confirm equivalents manually.
How the NKI15-16 model number is decoded
NKI 15/16 provides the full machined-ring needle roller construction: ground inner ring on a 15 mm seat, flanged outer ring at 27 mm, caged needles between them — the standard choice when a replaceable inner raceway is required. The NKI 15/16 code gives bore 15 mm and width 16 mm explicitly; unlike the RNA/NK families the shaft only needs a standard k5/j5 seat because the hardened inner ring is the raceway. The 2RS executions of the 49 series carry contact seals on both faces and a wider outer ring — their B and s dimensions differ from the open execution, so housings must be re-checked before substituting. The 39 g catalogue mass and 6.0 mm radial section ((27−15)/2) frame a rating of about 0.89 kN dynamic per millimetre of bore — the needle construction's density advantage over ball bearings of the same envelope. For NA 49 2RS executions the wider outer ring changes the housing depth: verify the 16 mm width and s offset dimensions against the open execution before reusing an existing bore.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- conveyor roller ends and return rollers
- agricultural implement pivots and cutter heads
- electric motor armature shafts with ground seats
- printing and paper-handling rollers
Known failure patterns
- raceway spalling once the catalogue L10 life is exceeded or after overload events
- 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
- inner-ring raceway spalling after the narrow ring section runs hot with excessive interference
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- On a 15 mm seat the housing bore quality dominates life: a bore 0.02 mm out of round pinches the 27 mm ring or cup into a lobed shape, and the rollers then trace the housing's geometry error, not the design load.
- Do not interchange envelope-identical needle families blindly: NKI 15/16 shares its 15×27×16 mm outline with inner-ring and sealed siblings whose ratings differ — the family letters are part of the specification, not decoration.
- Reference and limiting speeds are different limits: the 20,000 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.
- The 13.4/19 kN ratings and 39 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 are the dimensions and ratings of the NKI 15/16?
A NKI 15/16 measures 15 mm bore/Fw × 27 mm outside diameter × 16 mm width (0.591 × 1.063 × 0.63 in). From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: radial dynamic rating C 13.4 kN, static C0 19 kN, fatigue limit Pu 2.28 kN, limiting speed 24,000 r/min, reference speed 20,000 r/min, mass about 39 g.
How is the NKI 15/16 designation read?
The letters mark a machined-ring needle roller bearing with inner ring: 15 mm bore, 16 mm width, 27 mm OD per the series plan. The hardened inner ring is the raceway, so an ordinary k5 shaft seat suffices.
Can the NKI 15/16 run on an unhardened shaft?
Yes — that is the point of this family. The NKI 15/16 carries its own hardened, ground inner ring on a 15 mm seat, so the shaft needs only a normal k5/j6 finish. The inner ring is separable and replaceable.
How should the NKI 15/16 be mounted?
Mount the inner ring on the 15 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.
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.