Overview
ISO 5593:2023 - Rolling bearings - Vocabulary is the fourth-edition international vocabulary for rolling bearings. It defines widely accepted terms and definitions used across rolling bearing technology, covering bearing types, parts, arrangements, dimensions and functional concepts. The document is intended as a common-language reference for designers, manufacturers, specifiers and maintenance professionals working with rolling bearings and their accessories.
Key topics and technical scope
This vocabulary standard organizes and defines terms by topic and includes illustrative figures and an alphabetical index. Major subject areas include:
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Types of rolling bearings
- single-row, double-row, multi-row bearings
- angular contact, rigid, self-aligning, external-aligning bearings
- insert bearings, full-complement bearings, split bearings
- metric and inch series bearings
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Bearing parts and features
- raceways, inner and outer rings, washers
- rolling elements (balls, rollers), cages and separators
- separable vs non-separable subunits, bearing inserts and assemblies
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Arrangements and subunits
- bearing arrangements, subunit definitions, rolling element and cage assemblies
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Dimensions, identification and tolerances
- boundary dimensions, planes, dimension plans and series, feature identification
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Performance-related concepts
- torque, actual and equivalent loads, life and calculation factors
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Miscellaneous
- housings and bearing units, location and securing accessories
Notes:
- The standard contains figures showing examples and provides cross-references to indexed terms.
- Terms specifically covered by ISO 76, ISO 281 and ISO 1132-1, and those narrowly applied in single specialized standards, are excluded from ISO 5593.
Practical applications and who uses it
ISO 5593:2023 is a foundational reference used to ensure consistent terminology across product specifications, technical documentation, procurement and international communication. Typical users include:
- Bearing designers and engineers (mechanical, rotating equipment)
- Quality and standards teams in bearing manufacturing
- Maintenance and reliability engineers specifying replacements or upgrades
- Technical authors creating datasheets, manuals and CAD libraries
- Procurement and OEMs aligning international product requirements
Using a common vocabulary reduces ambiguity in design reviews, testing protocols, specifications and regulatory compliance for rotating machinery.
Related standards
- ISO 5593 is maintained by ISO/TC 4 (Rolling bearings).
- Terms specified in ISO 76, ISO 281 and ISO 1132-1 are intentionally excluded and should be consulted where applicable.
- The vocabulary complements other ISO bearing standards and can be used alongside ISO product, dimension and calculation standards for full technical implementation.
Keywords: ISO 5593:2023, rolling bearings vocabulary, bearing terminology, bearing definitions, bearing parts, bearing arrangements, ISO 5593.
