Floating & locating bearing

The locating/floating arrangement is the standard concept for supporting a shaft at two bearing positions. The locating bearing guides the shaft axially in both directions and carries thrust; the floating bearing supports radially only and permits axial displacement, absorbing thermal expansion and tolerances without cross-locating preload — a frequent cause of overheated bearings. Suitable floating bearings are NU/N cylindrical roller bearings, which allow displacement inside the bearing on the ribless raceway, or deep groove ball bearings with a sliding outer-ring fit (point load required). Alternatives are adjusted arrangements of paired angular contact bearings (O or X) for short, stiff shafts, and floating arrangements with limited end play.