DIN 5401 2002 English
DIN 5401 2002 English
DIN 5401 2002 English
In keeping with current practice in standards published by the International Organization for Standardization
(ISO), a comma has been used throughout as the decimal marker.
Foreword
This standard has been prepared by the Arbeitsausschuss Wälzlager (Rolling Bearings Standards Commit-
tee).
Ball sizes are also expressed in inches, for guidance. It should be noted, however, that the use of such units
is prohibited under Council Directive 80/181/EEC.
See Explanatory notes for connection with International Standard ISO 3290 : 2001 published by the Inter-
national Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Amendments
This standard differs from DIN 5401-1 and DIN 5401-2, November 1993 editions, as follows:
a) The two parts of the standard have been combined into one standard.
b) Further steel grades have been specified.
c) The range of ball sizes has been updated.
d) Further concepts are defined.
e) The standard has been editorially revised.
Previous editions
DIN 5401: 1953-01,1956-04, 1959-11, 1964-01, 1978-01; DIN 5401-1: 1993-11; DIN 5401-2: 1993-11.
1 Scope
This standard specifies requirements for balls for rolling bearings and for general industrial use. It covers
balls made of full hardening steel, special steel and other metallic or non-metallic materials.
Translation by DIN-Sprachendienst.
In case of doubt, the German-language original should be consulted as the authoritative text.
© No part of this translation may be reproduced without the prior permission of Ref. No. DIN 5401 : 2002-08
DIN Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V., Berlin. Beuth Verlag GmbH, 10772 Berlin, Germany, English price group 11 Sales No. 0111
has the exclusive right of sale for German Standards (DIN-Normen).
09.04
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DIN 5401 : 2002-08
2 Normative references
This standard incorporates, by dated or undated reference, provisions from other publications. These norma-
tive references are cited at the appropriate places in the text and the titles of the publications are listed below.
For dated references, subsequent amendments to or revisions of any of these publications apply to this
standard only when incorporated in it by amendment or revision. For undated references, the latest edition of
the publication referred to applies.
DIN EN 10016-2 Non-alloy steel rod for drawing or cold rolling – Specific requirements for general purpose
rod
DIN EN 10088-3 Stainless steels – Part 3: Technical delivery conditions for general purpose semi-finished
products, bars, rod and sections
DIN EN 10263-3 Steel rod, bars and wire for cold heading and cold extrusion – Part 3: Technical delivery
conditions for case hardening steels
DIN EN 12163 Copper and copper alloys – Rod for general purposes
DIN EN 12166 Copper and copper alloys – Wire for general purposes
DIN EN ISO 683-17 Heat-treated steels, alloy steels and free-cutting steels – Part 17: Ball and roller bearing
steels (ISO 683-17 : 1999)
DIN EN ISO 4288 GPS – Surface texture: Profile method – Rules and procedures for the assessment of
surface texture (ISO 4288 : 1996)
DIN EN ISO 6506-1 Metallic materials – Brinell hardness test – Part 1: Test method (ISO 6506-1 : 1999)
DIN EN ISO 6507-1 Metallic materials – Vickers hardness test – Part 1: Test method (ISO 6507-1 : 1997)
DIN EN ISO 6508-1 Metallic materials – Rockwell hardness test – Part 1: Test method (scales A, B, C, D, E,
F, G, H, K, N, T) (ISO 6508-1 : 1999)
ISO 4291 : 1985 Methods for the assessment of departure from roundness – Measurement of variations
in radius
ISO 3290 : 2001 Rolling bearings – Balls – Dimensions and tolerances
Council Directive of 20 December 1979 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to units
of measurement, EC Official Gazette, 1980, No. L 39, pp. 40 – 50 (80/181/EEC)
3 Concepts
3.1 Nominal ball diameter
The diameter used to identify a ball size; designated by D w.
3.6 Lot
For the purposes of this standard, a definite quantity of balls manufactured under conditions which are pre-
sumed uniform, and which is considered an entity.
3.16 Waviness
Surface irregularities of random or periodical deviation from the ideal spherical form.
3.18 Hardness
Measure of resistance to penetration as determined by specific methods.
NOTE: The values indicated in table 2 refer to Brinell hardness (HB), Vickers hardness (HV10) and Rockwell
hardness (HRC), determined by the methods specified in DIN EN ISO 6506-1, DIN EN ISO 6507-1 and
DIN EN ISO 6508-1, respectively.
Approx. mass
Nominal ball diameter, D w, in Size recommended for material of group 2 ) per 1 000 units
(7,85 g/cm 3),
mm in 1) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 in kg 3)
0,4 X X X 0,000 26
0,5 X X X 0,000 51
1 X X X X X X X 0,004 11
1,5 X X X X X X X X 0,013 9
1,588 1/ X X X X X X X X 0,016 5
16
2 X X X X X X X X 0,032 9
2,381 3/ X X X X X X X X 0,055 5
32
2,5 X X X X X X X X 0,064 2
2,778 7/ X X X X X X 0,088 1
64
3 X X X X X X X X 0,111
3,175 1/ X X X X X X X X 0,132
8
3,5 X X X X X X X X 0,176
3,969 5/ X X X X X X X X 0,257
32
4 X X X X X X X X 0,263
4,5 X X X X X X X X 0,375
4,762 3/ X X X X X X X X 0,444
16
5 X X X X X X X X 0,514
5,5 X X X X X X X X 0,684
5,556 7/ X X X X X X X X 0,705
32
5,953 15 / X X 0,84
64
6 X X X X X X X X X 0,888
6,35 1/ X X X X X X X X X 1,05
4
6,5 X X X X X X X X X 1,13
6,747 17 / X X X 1,26
64
7 X X X X X X X X X 1,41
7,144 9/ X X X X X X X X X 1,5
32
7,5 X X X X X X X 1,73
7,938 5/ X X X X X X X X X 2,06
16
8 X X X X X X X X X 2,11
8,5 X X X X X 2,52
8,731 11 / X X X X X X X X 2,74
32
9 X X X X X X X X 3
9,5 X X X X X X 3,52
9,525 3/ X X X X X X X X X 3,55
8
10 X X X X X X X X X 4,11
10,319 13 / X X X X X X X 4,52
32
10,5 X X X X X X 4,75
11 X X X X X X X X X 5,47
11,112 7/ X X X X X X X X X 5,64
16
11,5 X X X X 6,25
11,906 15 / X X X X X X X 6,94
32
12 X X X X X X X X 7,1
12,303 31 / X X X 7,65
64
12,5 X X X X X 8,03
12,7 1/ X X X X X X X X X 8,42
2
13 X X X X X X X X X 9,03
(continued)
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DIN 5401 : 2002-08
Table 1 (continued)
Approx. mass
Nominal ball diameter, D w, in Size recommended for material of group 2) per 1 000 units
(7,85 g/cm3),
mm in 1) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 in kg 3 )
13,494 17 / X X X X X 10,1
32
14 X X X X X X X X X 11,3
14,288 9/ X X X X X X X 12
16
15 X X X X X X X X X 13,9
15,081 19 / X X X X X 14,1
32
15,875 5/ X X X X X X X X X 16,4
8
16 X X X X X X X X X 16,8
16,669 21 / X X X 19
32
17 X X X X X X X 20,2
17,462 11 / X X X X 21,9
16
18 X X X X X X X X 24
18,256 23 / X X X 25
32
19 X X X X 28,2
19,05 3/ X X X X X X X 28,4
4
19,844 25 / X 32,1
32
20 X X X X X X X X 32,9
20,5 X 35,4
20,638 13 / X X X X X 36,1
16
21 X X 38,1
21,431 27 / X 40,5
32
22 X X X X X X 43,8
22,225 7/ X X X X X 45,1
8
23 X X X 50
23,019 29 / X 50,1
32
23,812 15 / X X X X 55,5
16
24 X X X X X 56,8
24,606 31 / X X 61,2
32
25 X X X X X X X 64,2
25,4 1 X X X X 67,4
26 X X X 72,2
26,988 1 1 /16 X X 80,8
28 X X X 90,2
35 X X X X 176
36 X X 192
36,512 1 7 /16 X 200
38 X 226
38,1 1 1/2 X X X X 227
39,688 1 9 /16 X 257
(continued)
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DIN 5401 : 2002-08
Table 1 (concluded)
Approx. mass
Nominal ball diameter, D w, in Size recommended for material of group 2 ) per 1 000 units
(7,85 g/cm3 ),
mm in 1) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 in kg 3)
40 X X X X X X 263
41,275 1 5/8 X X 289
42,862 1 11 / 16 X 324
46,038 1 13 / 16 X X 401
47,625 1 7/8 X X 444
50 X X X X 514
50,8 2 X X 539
53,975 2 1/8 X 646
55 X X X 684
57,15 2 1/4 X 767
60 X X X X 888
80 X X X 2 100
82,55 3 1/4 X 2 312
85 X X 2 524
Grade 2) Correction
Material Ball diameter
Hardness 1) factor
G100
G200
G300
G500
G600
G700
G10
G16
G20
G28
G40
G80
(mass) 3)
G3
G5
number designation Relevant standard Over Up to
Material group 1: Hardened steel for roller bearings (except for stainless steel)4 )
70 100 54 to 60 HRC X
(continued)
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DIN 5401 : 2002-08
Page 8
Table 2 (continued)
Grade 2) Correction
Material Ball diameter
Hardness 1) factor
G100
G200
G300
G500
G600
G700
G10
G16
G20
G28
G40
G80
(mass) 3)
G3
G5
number designation Relevant standard Over Up to
— 12,7 X
1.4112 X90CrMoV18 DIN EN 10088-3
12,7 25,4 X
1.4125 X105CrMo17 DIN EN 10088-3
25,4 50,8 55 HRC to 60 HRC X
1.4401 X5CrNiMo17-12-2 DIN EN 10088-3 5 25,4 280 HV10 to 380 HV10 X X 1,01
(continued)
Table 2 (concluded)
Grade 2) Correction
Material Ball diameter
Hardness 1) factor
G100
G200
G300
G500
G600
G700
G10
G16
G20
G28
G40
G80
(mass) 3)
G3
G5
number designation Relevant standard Over Up to
6 Requirements
6.1 Dimensional and form tolerances, and surface roughness
Table 3: Dimensional and form tolerances, and surface roughness
Dw tDws,
Nominal size, Limit VDws, R a 6), V DwL 5), V DwA 5), I G , S T, Preferred gauges 7),
Grade
in mm deviations, in µm in µm in µm in µm in µm values in µm
Over Up to in µm 5) Max. Max. Max. Max.
G500 4) — 25,4 t 75 25 — — 50 50 — 50 0 + 50
1) In some cases and subject to agreement, half the gauge interval values may be used for grades G16, G20, G28 and G 300.
2) Not specified in ISO 3290.
3) Not specified in ISO 3290.
4) Not specified in ISO 3290.
5) Values relate to the mean diameter of a ball, Dwm.
6) See DIN EN ISO 4288. For smaller ball sizes (not covered in this standard), values are subject to agreement.
7) Graded in intervals equal to IG (cf. subclause 3.11).
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DIN 5401 : 2002-08
7 Packaging
Balls made of steel shall be supplied with corrosion protection applied.
Each gauge lot shall be packed separately. When indicating the gauge, the letter P may be used to denote plus,
M, minus and N, zero.
Where no particular agreement has been made, the ball gauge supplied shall be at the manufacturer’s discre-
tion.
If a consignment consists of several packs and a variety of gauges, then each pack shall contain balls of one
particular gauge.
For balls of grades G3 to G200, except grade G80, packs should contain only one grade, even though they are
of the same gauge, since the gauge deviation, S T, may vary.
Packaging shall be marked with the ball nominal diameter, grade, gauge and material number (or material
designation). Where the ball is of group 1 material, the material need not to be indicated unless the customer
requests a particular grade, or a different material.
For balls of grades G3 to G200, except grade G80, the marking of a pack shall include the mean deviation for
diameter Dw (in brackets).
Examples
EXAMPLE 1
Marking of a pack containing balls of group 1 material (material number 1.3505), with a nominal diameter,
Dw, of 6 mm, ball grade G10 and gauge + 3 (P3), with a mean deviation of D w of +3,2 µm:
6 G10 P3 (+3,2)
EXAMPLE 2
Marking of a pack containing balls of group 2 material (material number 1.3541), with a nominal diameter,
Dw, of 6 mm, ball grade G20 and gauge –4 (M4), with a mean deviation of D w of –3,8 µm:
6 G20 M4 – 1.3541(–3,8)
EXAMPLE 3
Marking of a pack containing balls of group 9 material (material designation: Si3N4), with a nominal diameter,
Dw, of 6 mm, ball grade G5 and gauge 0 (N), with a mean deviation of Dw of +0,4 µm:
6 G5 N – Si3N4 (+0,4)
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DIN 5401 : 2002-08
Annex A
Illustration of gauges and sorting principles
A.1 Details of sorting parameter V DwL (applies to grades G3 to G200, except G80)
Key:
1 Limits of DwmL for a particular gauge 4 Variation of VdWL within a lot
2 Smallest ball in a lot 5 Range of mean diameter of lot for ball gauge
3 Largest ball in a lot
Figure A.1: Details of sorting parameter VDwL
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DIN 5401 : 2002-08
A.2 Details of sorting parameter VDwA (applies to grades G300 to G700 and G80)
Key:
1 Variation of VdWA within a lot
Figure A.2: Details of sorting parameter VDwA
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DIN 5401 : 2002-08
Annex B
Measurement of deviation from spherical form
To establish the deviation from spherical form of balls, measure the roundness in a number of equatorial planes.
Evaluation of roundness in a single equatorial plane shall be made by calculations based on the least squares
centre method.
The difference between the radii of the minimum circumscribed circle and the maximum inscribed circle (with
both circles being concentric) shall be taken to be the deviation from spherical form.
In practice, it has been found sufficient to take measurements in three equatorial planes normal to each other.
See ISO 4291 for more details.
Key:
1 least squares mean circle
2 Space for marking ‘Magnification é 10 000’
3 Space for marking ‘Filter 1-50’
4 Space for marking ‘Deviation from roundness, tDWs = 2,48 µm’
Figure B.1: Assessment of deviation from roundness
Explanatory notes
This standard conforms to International Standard ISO 3290 in many respects, except that
– the number of ball grades has been enlarged (grades G 80 and G 500 to G 700) to meet the demand in
fields other than roller bearings;
– materials other than steel for roller bearings have been specified (e.g. copper-tin alloys, ceramics).
It should also be noted that the ball nominal diameters are now specified to three decimal places (instead of
five places) since this facilitates ball production without adversely affecting accuracy.