NKX60-Z bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The NKX60-Z is a DIN 616 radial bearing sized 60 x 72 x 40 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 | 72 mm |
| Width B | 40 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | none |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 41.8 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 96.5 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 11.8 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 3600 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 3000 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 380 g |
| Manufacturer designation | NKX 60 Z |
| Standard | DIN 616 |
| Catalog version | SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 7.9 needle roller / thrust ball, caged thrust part |
| Last verified | 2026-09-26 |
Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 7.9 needle roller / thrust ball, caged thrust part) · extracted 2026-09-26
Parameters extracted from the official SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 7.9 needle roller / thrust ball, caged thrust part); 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 & NKX-series range
| Bore d | 2.362 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 2.835 in |
| Width B | 1.575 in |
| ISO bore code | — |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 6 mm |
| Smallest bore in NKX-series | 10 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in NKX-series | 85 mm |
| Width range across NKX-series | 23–40 mm |
| Bore position in NKX-series (smallest first) | 12 of 13 |
| Bore above smallest NKX-series size | 50 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
| Equivalent model | Brand | Match level | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| NKX60 | SKF | full Dimensions and internal design equivalent — standard interchange. | Same 60×72×40 mm envelope and equivalent catalogue ratings; NKX60 is the combined needle/thrust ball execution — boundary-dimension interchangeable, execution differences (seals, shields, cage) apply. |
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 NKX60-Z model number is decoded
NKX 60 Z is a combined needle roller / thrust ball bearing with a caged thrust part: radial load on caged needle rollers, axial load on a ball thrust set with stamped cages, per SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000 ch. 7.9. In SKF nomenclature NKX is the combined family: the number states 60 mm, and unlike NX the thrust balls are caged, trading some axial capacity for speed and friction. The thrust part takes axial load in one direction only; mount it facing the working load and provide a separate locating bearing for reverse events. Axial capability is one-direction: size the arrangement so working thrust pushes the thrust-washer face, and provide a mirrored unit or separate bearing for load reversals. Apply the working axial load after mounting and re-check running torque; a rising torque in the first minutes signals balls climbing the washer lip under reversed thrust.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- rotary indexing tables under combined load
- conveyor screw thrust ends
- turntable and swivel mounts
- machine tool feed spindles with one-direction thrust
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
- thrust-part ball or roller skidding and smearing when the axial load falls below the minimum factor
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 3,600 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.
- Do not treat the axial rating 41.6 kN (Ca) as independent of radial load: the combined equivalent load formulas couple them, and a unit sized on radial life alone will spall the ball raceway first under real thrust.
- The thrust part is one-direction: reverse axial events — however brief — lift the rolling elements off the raceway, and the subsequent re-entry impact dents the washer face; mount the NKX 60 Z facing the working thrust.
- The 41.8/96.5 kN ratings and 380 g mass are SKF catalogue values transcribed from ch. 7.9 of PUB BU/P1 17000 (PDF table page 658); combined-type axial ratings appear in the text above because the structured record carries radial values only.
Frequently asked questions
Does the NKX 60 Z need a hardened and ground shaft?
The radial needle part of the NKX 60 Z runs directly on the 60 mm journal — harden to 58–64 HRC and grind it. The thrust washers are integral, so no separate inner ring exists; size the shaft for the raceway tolerances in the catalogue table.
What mounting mistakes ruin a NKX 60 Z?
Press on the ring faces only with a fitting sleeve, keep everything square to the 60 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 NKX 60 Z 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 NKX 60 Z have?
A NKX 60 Z measures 60 mm bore/Fw × 72 mm outside diameter × 40 mm width (2.362 × 2.835 × 1.575 in). From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: radial dynamic rating C 41.8 kN, static C0 96.5 kN, fatigue limit Pu 11.8 kN, limiting speed 3,000 r/min, reference speed 3,600 r/min, mass about 380 g. Axial ratings of the thrust part: dynamic Ca 41.6 kN (Ca), static C0a 122 kN (C0a), minimum load factor A 0.077; the thrust set carries load in one direction only.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 7.9 needle roller / thrust ball, caged thrust part on 2026-09-26. Read our editorial & correction policy.