294-530-EM bearing: complete specifications & equivalents
The 294-530-EM is a ISO 104 radial bearing sized 530 x 920 x 236 mm (bore x OD x width). Verify dimensions against the official catalog before ordering.
Specification table
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | SKF |
| Bore diameter d | 530 mm |
| Outer diameter D | 920 mm |
| Width B | 236 mm |
| Material | GCr15 |
| Seal / shield | open |
| Internal clearance | CN |
| Tolerance class | P0 |
| Cage | brass |
| Basic dynamic load rating C | 10500 kN |
| Basic static load rating C0 | 44000 kN |
| Fatigue load limit Pu | 3100 kN |
| Reference speed (thermal) | 320 rpm |
| Limiting speed (mechanical) | 630 rpm |
| Operating temperature | -40 to +120 °C |
| Mass | 650000 g |
| Manufacturer designation | 294/530 EM |
| Standard | ISO 104 |
| Catalog version | SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 13.1 spherical roller thrust bearings |
| Last verified | 2026-09-27 |
Source: catalog reference (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 13.1 spherical roller thrust bearings) · extracted 2026-09-27
Parameters extracted from the official SKF Rolling Bearings catalogue (SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 13.1 spherical roller thrust bearings); 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 & 29400-series range
| Bore d | 20.866 in |
|---|---|
| Outer diameter D | 36.22 in |
| Width B | 9.291 in |
| ISO bore code | — |
| Radial section height (D−d)/2 | 195 mm |
| Smallest bore in 29400-series | 60 mm |
| Largest outer diameter in 29400-series | 1770 mm |
| Width range across 29400-series | 42–426 mm |
| Bore position in 29400-series (smallest first) | 34 of 46 |
| Bore above smallest 29400-series size | 470 mm |
Cross references & equivalents
No verified interchange data yet. Send an inquiry and our team will confirm equivalents manually.
How the 294-530-EM model number is decoded
The heavy 294 series bearing 294/530 EM carries 10500 kN of thrust on barrel rollers whose contact angle also tolerates radial force up to a fraction of the applied thrust — the standard heavy-duty thrust bearing for 530 mm shafts. In 294/530 EM, the 294 series fixes the 920 mm OD and 236 mm height — 294 is the heaviest section per bore, 292 the lightest and fastest — and 530 mm (slash-size) selects the 530 mm seat. The heavy 294 series is typically oil-bath or forced-oil lubricated in the large sizes: the pumping action of the barrel rollers drives oil through the contact, and interrupted oil supply damages the bearing fastest. Speed planning separates the 320 r/min thermal reference from the 630 r/min mechanical limiting speed. Thrust bearings govern the thermal speed of many vertical arrangements, and oil circulation raises the usable speed substantially above grease values. Verify the minimum axial load (factor A 180) immediately at commissioning — a cold start unloaded smears the rollers; spring preload or rotor weight must be present before the shaft rotates.
Typical equipment & failure modes
Common applications
- injection moulding machine and extruder screw thrust positions
- vertical hydro generators and large vertical pump motors
- coal mill, cement mill and sugar mill thrust bearings under shock load
- marine shaft and rudder-style thrust positions with seat deflection
Known failure patterns
- roller skidding and raceway glazing once the thrust falls below the catalogue minimum axial load (factor A)
- housing-washer rotation scored into an unmachined or loose seating face
- oil starvation at the sliding contact zones of large spherical roller thrust bearings on forced-feed trips
- condensation pitting in machines that run intermittently in humid environments
- smearing at roller-raceway contacts during unloaded startup before the oil film or preload is established
Selection pitfalls — read before you substitute
- Above 300 mm bore the minimum load is large (A 180 here): design the preload or lift sequence explicitly — an unloaded slow rotation glazes the 920 mm washer track.
- Minimum load factor A 180 dominates commissioning: start the oil flow and preload before rotation, especially on 294 bearings where an unloaded cold start smears the rollers.
- The spherical seat tolerates static misalignment, not a continuously rocking housing — a loose sphered seat frets under oscillation and needs the catalogue seat tolerances plus clean, greased contact.
- E, EM and EF suffixes are cage designs for different size bands, not quality grades: substitute only within the same envelope and check the lubricant compatibility of the cage material.
- The 10500/44000 kN figures assume the matching sphered seating washer is fitted where the catalogue calls for it; a flat housing seat removes the self-aligning function.
- The 10500/44000 kN ratings and 650000 g mass are SKF catalogue values transcribed from ch. 13.1 of PUB BU/P1 17000 (PDF table page 928); mounting data — the minimum axial load factor A — appears in the running text because the structured record carries the boundary envelope only.
Frequently asked questions
How is a 294/530 EM mounted?
Tight shaft washer on the 530 mm seat, sphered housing washer on its matching seating washer, induction heating for large sizes, oil at the catalogue level before start, and the factor-A 180 preload verified at commissioning.
What are the dimensions and ratings of the 294/530 EM?
A 294/530 EM measures 530 mm bore × 920 mm outside diameter × 236 mm width (20.866 × 36.22 × 9.291 in). From SKF catalogue PUB BU/P1 17000: dynamic C 10500 kN, static C0 44000 kN, fatigue limit Pu 3100 kN, reference speed 320 r/min, limiting speed 630 r/min, mass about 650000 g. Minimum axial load factor A 180 must be maintained in service.
How is the 294/530 EM designation read?
294 is the dimension series (heavy 294 series) and 530 mm (slash-size) the 530 mm bore (the bore is written directly after the slash (no bore code)); EM is the cage execution (machined brass EM cage). The sphered housing washer provides self-alignment.
Why is the minimum axial load (A 180) so important?
Spherical roller thrust bearings skid and smear immediately when run unloaded — on large sizes factor A 180 corresponds to a substantial force. Springs, oil lift or the rotor/load weight must be applied before rotation, including cold test runs.
Reviewed & verified by the MPN Base engineering desk against source catalog SKF PUB BU/P1 17000/1 EN (Oct 2018), ch. 13.1 spherical roller thrust bearings on 2026-09-27. Read our editorial & correction policy.