This INA TW-series axial roller bearing washer is designed for use with INA TC to ABMA 21.2–1988 axial needle roller bearings in applications where adjacent components cannot serve as raceways. This axial bearing washer serves as a raceway surface for the thrust assembly’s rolling elements and can be used as a housing locating washer (outer ring) centered in the housing or a shaft locating washer (inner ring) centered on the shaft. The raceway is ground to accommodate higher speeds and provide greater running accuracy than unground raceways. The washer is made of low alloy, through-hardened chromium steel for durability, heat tolerance, and resistance to deformity under heavy loads, and it can be used at operating temperatures from -20 degrees C to 120 C (-4 degrees F to 248 F). This axial bearing washer is suitable for use in various applications including machine tool drive shafts, automotive steering gears and clutches, rotary tables, outboard motor propellers, and household appliances.

Rolling bearings use rolling elements to maintain the separation between moving parts to reduce rotational friction and support radial and axial loads. These elements can be one of the following types: ball, cylindrical, spherical, barrel, needle, spindle, or tapered. All rolling bearings are open, shielded, or sealed. Sealed bearings are lubricated with oil or grease in the bearing factory, while open and shielded bearings are meant to be lubricated in place, with periodic reapplication of lubrication, based on use. The shield protects the working parts of the bearing from environmental debris that may be introduced and could reduce the ball bearing speed and lifespan. Rolling bearings are used in a range of applications from agricultural machinery to conveying equipment, robotics, dental equipment, elevators, rolling mills, ship rudder shafts, and aggregate crushers, among others.

The Schaeffler Group’s INA brand manufactures rolling bearings, plain bearings, and linear guides for the automotive industry. The company, founded in 1946, is headquartered in Herzogenaurach, Germany, and meets International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and Deutsches Institut für Normung (DIN) standards for quality assurance.