STEP 01
Application review
We check the bearing, shaft, load and mounting details — or your drawing or old housing — before anything is cast.
Engineering & Quality
Engineered around the bearing. Verified before it ships.
Reliable housing selection begins with the bearing, shaft, load, mounting arrangement and operating environment — not simply the casting designation.
- 01In-house pattern development
- 02Machined bearing seats
- 03Seal options per environment
- 04Inspection to your RFQ
Selection inputs
What we need to select or develop a housing.
Share the values you have — anything not yet known can be marked as such and worked out together.
How to find it +Close −Shaft diameter
Sets the bore, adapter sleeve and seal size.
Measure the shaft where the bearing sits, in mm. If the bearing is on an adapter sleeve, tell us the shaft size, not the bearing bore.
How to find it +Close −Bearing designation
Defines the seat diameter and width the housing must hold.
Read the number printed on the bearing's outer ring or side face (e.g. 22216 K). A photo of the marking works too.
How to find it +Close −Locating / non-locating
Decides whether locating rings fix the bearing or let it float.
On a shaft with two housings, usually one holds the bearing fixed and the other lets it slide. Tell us which position this housing is for, or send a sketch of the shaft.
How to find it +Close −Load and speed
Guides material, wall section and lubrication choice.
Share the shaft speed (RPM), the machine type and any heavy, shock or vibrating loads. Approximate values are fine.
How to find it +Close −Operating environment
Dust, water and temperature drive the seal selection.
Describe where it runs: indoors or outdoors, dust, water spray, slurry, chemicals, and the rough working temperature.
How to find it +Close −Lubrication
Grease or oil changes seals, fittings and relubrication points.
Tell us whether you use grease or oil and how often it is topped up, or if you want central lubrication points.
How to find it +Close −Mounting constraints
Centre height, bolt pitch and base footprint for replacements.
For a replacement, measure centre height (base to shaft centre), the distance between bolt holes and the base length and width — or send the old housing's drawing or photo.
Process
How a FRIENDS housing is engineered.
STEP 02
Pattern & casting
Patterns are developed for the housing geometry and cast in the specified material.
STEP 03
Machining
Bearing seat, split faces and base are machined so the cap, base and bearing seat together.
STEP 04
Inspection & dispatch
Critical dimensions are verified and documentation and packing prepared as agreed.
— Inside the works —
From pattern to dispatch.
Every stage that shapes a FRIENDS housing.
01
Pattern shop
Patterns developed for each housing geometry.
02
Foundry
Cast in cast iron, SG iron or cast steel as specified.
03
Machine shop
Bearing seat, split faces and base machined together.
04
Inspection
Critical dimensions verified before release.
05
Dispatch
Documentation and packing prepared as agreed.
Bearing location
Locating and non-locating bearing positions.
Industrial shafts frequently require one bearing position to locate the shaft axially while another permits thermal expansion. Applicable FRIENDS housings can be configured using suitable locating components.
Locating: locating rings (red) hold the bearing axially.
Floating: the bearing can shift as the shaft expands with heat.
Materials
Select around operating demand.
Cast iron
Established for many standard industrial housings.
RELATIVE TOUGHNESS
SG / ductile iron
Available where greater robustness is required.
RELATIVE TOUGHNESS
Cast steel
For selected severe-duty and special applications.
RELATIVE TOUGHNESS
Quality
Verify before it leaves the factory.
Inspection requirements should be defined at quotation stage, particularly for replacement housings, export projects and OEM applications.
- Critical dimensional verification
- Housing designation verification
- Material documentation where requested
- Dimensional inspection documentation where requested
- Customer drawing review
- Packing requirements
- Traceability requirements where agreed
ISO 113
Standardised dimensions where required.
ISO 113 defines boundary dimensions for applicable two-bolt and four-bolt plummer-block housing arrangements. Where standard dimensional compatibility is required, specify the existing housing, drawing or dimensional standard in the RFQ.