Study on Fatigue Life Prediction of Crossed Roller Bearings

This paper presents a method for estimating the fatigue life of crossed roller bearings (XRBs). XRBs feature a single row of rollers arranged alternately at right angles, making them ideal for applications that require high precision and a compact design. In rolling-element bearings, fatigue life is a crucial design parameter for ensuring long-term reliability and performance. However, existing fatigue life estimation models for XRBs in the literature are limited to basic rating life, with no models available for reference rating life. To address this gap, we developed a comprehensive fatigue life prediction model specifically for XRBs. We formulated a corresponding dynamic load rating to align with the values provided by bearing manufacturers and calibrated an unknown adjustment factor for XRBs using a commercial program. Additionally, a parametric study was conducted to investigate the impact of varying diametral clearance, external loads, roller dimensions, and roller profile parameters on the fatigue life of XRBs.