COM Series
- DesignMetal-to-Metal, Lubrication Groove & Hole
- Material304, 316, or 17-4PH
- Best ForGeneral-purpose radial load, greasable
Motion & Linkage
Stainless Steel Spherical Bearings
Profab Machine manufactures stainless steel spherical plain bearings in COM, COM-T, GEC, SLB, WPB, and YPB series. Metal-to-metal, PTFE-lined, and injection-molded sliding systems in 304, 316L, and 17-4PH, matched to your load direction, misalignment, and environment.
Product Overview
What Is a Stainless Steel Spherical Bearing?
A stainless steel spherical bearing — more precisely, a spherical plain bearing — is a separate inner-ring/outer-ring bearing with a spherical sliding interface. It mounts into your own housing, cup, clevis eye, or machined bore, and accommodates angular misalignment between the inner and outer rings while carrying radial (and in some designs, axial) load.
This is a separate bearing element, not a threaded rod end and not a ball-and-socket linkage. See the comparison below if you're not sure which one your assembly needs.
Product Range
Types of Stainless Steel Spherical Plain Bearings
Whether you are an equipment manufacturer, system integrator, or industrial buyer, Profab can provide standard and custom spherical bearing configurations based on your drawings, specifications, tolerances, and material requirements.
COM-T Series
- DesignMetal-to-Metal, Oscillating Motion
- Material304, 316, or 17-4PH
- Best ForModerate angular travel, limited greasing access
GEC Series
- DesignRadial Spherical Plain Bearing
- Material304, 316, or 17-4PH
- Best ForCylinder eyes, heavy linkage pivots, articulated joints
SLB Series
- DesignReinforced PTFE-Nylon Race
- Material304 or 316 Housing
- Best ForCompact radial support, low-friction, lighter duty
WPB Series
- DesignPTFE-Lined, No Routine Greasing
- Material304 or 316
- Best ForFood equipment, packaging machinery, access panels, outdoor linkages
YPB Series
- DesignWide Inner Ring, Extended Angular Travel
- Material304, 316, or 17-4PH
- Best ForSteering joints, suspension links, lift mechanisms
Spherical Plain Bearing vs. Rod End
A spherical plain bearing is a separate inner/outer ring bearing that presses or mounts into a housing, cup, or clevis eye you supply. A rod end integrates that same type of bearing into a male or female threaded body, which is easier to adjust and replace but puts the shank and threaded body into the load path. Choose a separate bearing when the structure itself needs a compact bearing eye or a high-load path; choose a rod end when adjustment and quick replacement matter more.
Spherical Plain Bearing vs. Ball Joint & Rolling Bearing
A ball joint linkage uses a ball stud seated into a socket with snap-ring or staked retention — a different interface and load path than a ring-and-race spherical bearing. A spherical roller bearing is a rolling-element bearing built for a different speed, load, and maintenance category entirely, and should not be confused with a spherical plain bearing just because both share the word "spherical." Tell us your load path and mounting method and we'll confirm which category actually fits.
Selection Guide
Which Series Is Right for Your Application?
Start with load direction and maintenance access, not bore size alone.
| Requirement | Recommended Series |
|---|---|
| Higher radial load: cylinder eyes, heavy linkage pivots, articulated joints | GEC (Radial) |
| Oscillating motion, moderate travel, limited greasing access | COM-T |
| Maintenance-free, food/packaging, outdoor, or hard-to-access pivots | WPB (PTFE-Lined) |
| Compact, low-friction, lighter-duty radial support | SLB (Injection-Molded) |
| Large angular movement: steering, suspension, lift mechanisms | YPB (High-Misalignment) |
| General-purpose metal-to-metal, greasable, cost-sensitive | COM |
Not sure which series fits? Send your load direction, bore/OD envelope, misalignment angle, and environment in the quote form and we'll recommend a series.
Material Specification
Choosing the Right Grade
304 Stainless
General-purpose grade. Good resistance to humidity, mild chemicals, and food-safe cleaning agents. Use this for indoor machinery, agricultural equipment, and dry-run automation.
Food Automation Indoor316 / 316L
Molybdenum addition gives 316L roughly 3× better chloride resistance than 304. Preferred for marine applications, salt-spray environments, offshore, and food-grade lines with CIP chemical cleaning.
Marine Chemical Pumps17-4PH
Precipitation-hardened grade. After H900 heat treatment, tensile strength reaches ~1,310 MPa — significantly stronger than 316. Used where load rating, not cost, is the primary constraint, such as high-cycle fatigue applications.
High-Load High-CycleApplications
Spherical Bearing Solutions By Industries
Profab Machine adapts stainless spherical bearing designs to your equipment, load direction, environment, and assembly space.
Food & Packaging Machinery
Install maintenance-free stainless spherical bearings in filling heads, transfer arms, guide linkages, and guarding pivots. Sealed or lined structures help the joint survive cleaning cycles and reduce grease-related maintenance.
Marine Equipment
Use stainless steel spherical plain bearings in steering actuators, hatch arms, access panel pivots, and deck hardware, for better corrosion resistance than plain carbon steel when salt spray or outdoor moisture reaches the joint.
Hydraulic Cylinders
Fit radial spherical plain bearings into cylinder eyes, clevis mounts, and loader linkages. The bearing compensates for angular misalignment so the rod end does not carry side load from imperfect mounting geometry.
Construction & Agricultural
Use sealed radial spherical bearings in lift arms, control rods, steering links, and oscillating joints exposed to dust, water, and vibration.
Core Features of PROFAB Stainless Spherical Bearings
The spherical sliding interface allows angular movement between the inner and outer rings, accommodating shaft-to-housing misalignment and reducing unwanted edge loading. Bearing load capacity depends on size, material combination, sliding system, and operating conditions. Precision-machined from 304/316 stainless steel, it resists salt spray, chemical corrosion, and abrasion for longer service life. Optional self-lubricating PTFE lining or a lubrication programme with a greasing device meets different maintenance-cycle requirements.
Machining for High-Quality SS Spherical Bearings
Machining centres use CNC turning and milling to produce stainless steel spherical bearing housings and inner rings to precision tolerances. Heat treatment and passivation are available through our outsourced service network for grades and specifications that require them. Self-lubricating PTFE linings or grease lubrication systems with dust-proof seals are fitted to different models. Profab spherical plain bearings are calibrated to specific torque values as part of assembly.
Why Profab
Your Reliable Spherical Bearing Supplier
01
Complete Linkage Solution Sourcing
Reduce administrative overhead and thread/fit mismatches. Partner with a manufacturer that supplies fully compatible stainless spherical plain bearings, standoff spacers, rod ends, and locknuts as a complete assembly.
02
Drawing & Load-Case Verification
Before issuing a quote, we evaluate your drawing's fit tolerances, liner specifications, and operational load cases to ensure the chosen bearing configuration handles your motion path and environment.
03
Precision Fit, Verified to Spec
We CNC-machine all race components, housings, and custom sleeves to tight tolerance bands, and confirm fit against your drawing before production.
Build a Complete System
Stainless Steel Spherical Bearing Kits
Profab Machine supplies integrated spherical bearing kits that package every surrounding hardware component your assembly team needs, eliminating dimension mismatches across the bearing bore, housing seat, mounting bolts, and overall linkage stackup width.
Misalignment Spacers
Reduces mounting bolt diameter while increasing the angular swivel movement of the spherical plain bearing. Essential for high-articulation steering, suspension, and hydraulic cylinder linkages where standard housing faces limit angular clearance.
Learn More
Rod Ends
Combines a housing, threaded shank, and spherical plain bearing into a single adjustable joint. Available in matching 304, 316, and 17-4PH stainless grades to ensure uniform corrosion resistance across the assembly.
Learn More
Jam Nuts
Locks threaded rod ends and spherical plain bearing adjusters securely in place after length calibration. Supplied in matching stainless alloys with precision thread classes to prevent vibration looseness in outdoor and washdown equipment.
Custom Options
Custom Spherical Bearing Configurations
Bore and Inch Size
Bore tolerance must be confirmed against your pin, bolt, and operating clearance.
Stainless Grade
Material choices depend on load capacity, surface hardness, corrosion exposure, and wear requirements.
Liner Structure
Choose metal-to-metal, PTFE-lined, or composite sliding structures based on lubrication access, friction target, and service environment.
Seal Structure
Sealed configurations help keep contamination out of the contact surface. Open designs remain useful when inspection, cleaning, or relubrication access is required.
Technical Reference
Bore & OD Dimensions
| Bore (mm) | OD (mm) | Bore (Inch) | OD (Inch) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 12 | 0.1650 | 0.4687 |
| 4 | 12 | 0.1900 | 0.5625 |
| 5 | 14/16 | 0.2500 | 0.6562 |
| 6 | 14/18 | 0.3125 | 0.7500 |
| 8 | 16/22 | 0.3750 | 0.8125 |
| 10 | 19/26 | 0.4375 | 0.9062 |
| 12 | 22/30 | 0.5000 | 1.0000 |
| 14 | 34 | 0.5625 | 1.0937 |
| 15 | 26 | 0.6250 | 1.1875 |
| 16 | 38 | 0.7500 | 1.4375 |
| 17 | 30 | 0.8750 | 1.5625 |
| 18 | 42 | 1.0000 | 1.7500 |
| 20 | 35/46 | 1.0000 | 2.0000 |
| 22 | 50 | 1.1875 | 2.3750 |
| 25 | 42/56 | 1.2500 | 2.3750 |
| 30 | 47/66 | 1.5000 | 2.7500 |
| Custom | Custom | 1.7500 | 3.1250 |
| — | — | 2.0000 | 3.5000 |
| — | — | Custom | Custom |
Standard & Upgrades
Surface Finish Options
Profab Machine recommends optimized surface finishes based on stainless alloy selection, liner type, sealing method, and operating environment.
01
Precision-Ground Spherical Contact Surfaces
CNC spherical grinding optimizes the ball-to-race contact geometry, controlling internal radial clearance to meet your required specification, for smooth oscillating motion under high static and dynamic loads.
02
Chemical Passivation
Removes free iron contamination deposited during machining, restoring the uniform chromium oxide passive layer across the housing, snap-ring grooves, and shank threads. Essential for preserving baseline corrosion resistance in 304, 316, and 17-4PH stainless grades.
03
Electropolishing (Optional Upgrade)
Removes surface micro-peaks to deliver an ultra-smooth, chromium-enriched surface finish. Recommended for pharmaceutical, biotech, and food-processing machinery where low surface roughness reduces particle adherence and simplifies CIP washdown protocols.
04
Mirror Polishing (Optional)
Specifically applied to metal-to-metal (unlined) stainless steel spherical plain bearings for a smooth, low-friction contact surface. Hard-facing options are also available on request to further harden the spherical contact zone and reduce material transfer (galling) under extreme alternating loads.
FAQ
Common Questions
Not seeing your question? Email us at [email protected] and we typically reply same day.
What is the difference between a spherical plain bearing and a rod end or ball joint?
A spherical plain bearing is a separate inner/outer ring bearing that mounts into your own housing or cup. A rod end integrates that same type of bearing into a threaded body for easier adjustment and replacement. A ball joint linkage uses a ball stud and socket instead of a ring-and-race bearing. Tell us your mounting method and load path and we'll confirm which one fits your assembly.
How do stainless steel spherical bearings handle misalignment?
Their design allows for both angular rotation and slight shaft misalignments, reducing stress on machinery and extending service life.
Are these bearings suitable for food or medical applications?
Yes. With 304 or 316 stainless steel, they meet hygienic and corrosion-resistant requirements often needed in food processing and medical equipment.
Can stainless steel spherical bearings be used in high-temperature applications?
Yes, but the allowable operating temperature depends on the complete bearing configuration. The liner, seal, lubricant, and material combination can limit the usable temperature range even when the stainless steel components themselves can withstand higher temperatures.
What is the difference between PTFE-lined and metal-on-metal spherical bearings?
PTFE-lined spherical bearings are generally preferred where low friction, reduced maintenance, and limited lubrication access are important. Metal-on-metal spherical bearings are often selected for higher load, shock, or high-temperature applications where relubrication is acceptable. The appropriate construction depends on load, movement, speed, environment, and service requirements.
How do I choose the right stainless steel spherical bearing?
Selection should start with the required bore diameter, outside diameter, width, radial and axial loads, misalignment angle, operating temperature, movement frequency, and environmental conditions. The sliding contact material, lubrication method, sealing, and housing fit should also be checked before selecting a bearing.
Related Products
Often Ordered Together
How to Order
From Inquiry to Delivery
1
Send Specs
Series, bore, OD, width, grade, liner type, quantity. DXF or drawing for custom items.
2
Respond Within 24 Hours
We will work on the best solution based on your request and send you a specific quote within 24 hours.
3
Production
30 days standard. Samples before full production run on new custom parts. QC report before shipment.
4
Delivery
Sea, air, or express courier. Tracking same day.
Blog
Spherical Bearing Knowledge Base
Field-tested answers on installation, housing fit, and lubrication from the Profab technical team.
Why a Spherical Plain Bearing Spins in the Housing
It’s almost never the bearing’s fault when the outer ring rotates freely in the bore. Here’s what actually causes it — and how to fix the housing, not just swap the bearing.
Read More »
Why Self-Lubricating Spherical Bearings Last Longer
A logged, on-schedule relube can still end in a dry-run failure. Here’s the installation-geometry problem that causes it, and why a self-lubricating liner sidesteps it entirely.
Read More »
Spherical Plain Bearings in FSAE & Motorsport Suspension
Why most A-arm tube ends use a pressed spherical bearing instead of a threaded rod end — it’s a load-path decision, not a cost one.
Read More »Get in touch with
Ready to Source Stainless Steel Spherical Bearings?
If you already have the drawings, please send email to [email protected] directly for an instant quote.
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