ASTM F2443-04(2021)

Standard Specification for Roller, Bearing, Needle, Ferrous, Solid, Spherical End

ABSTRACT
This specification covers spherical-ended ferrous needle rollers intended for use as bearing components. Rollers shall be made of chrome alloy steel E50100, E51100, E52100, and shall conform to specified requirements for heat treatment and protective coatings. Rollers shall also meet specified values for diameter, length, and effective length in accordance with MS Part No.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers ferrous needle rollers having spherical ends.  
1.2 Spherical-ended needle rollers designed to this specification are intended for use as bearing components. A complement of rollers is run on a hardened (HRC 58-65, see Test Methods E18) shaft and in a hardened (HRC 58-65) housing bore to form the bearing.  
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.4 This specification contains many of the requirements of MS19065, which was originally developed by the Department of Defense and maintained by the Defense Supply Center Richmond. The following government activity codes may be found in the Department of Defense, Standardization Directory SD-1.2    
Preparing activity  
Custodians  
Review Activities    
DLA–GS4  
Army–AT  
Navy–MC    
Navy–OS  
Air Force–84  
Air Force–99  
DLA–GS4  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 14-Jan-2021
• ICS: 21.100.20 - Rolling bearings
• Technical Committee: F34 - Rolling Element Bearings
• Drafting Committee: F34.01 - Rolling Element

Relations

• Refers: ASTM E18-18 - Standard Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness of Metallic Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2018
• Refers: ASTM E18-17 - Standard Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness of Metallic Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2017
• Refers: ASTM E18-12 - Standard Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness of Metallic Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2012
• Refers: ASTM E18-11 - Standard Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness of Metallic Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Nov-2011
• Refers: ASTM E18-08a - Standard Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness of Metallic Materials <a href="#fn00002"></a>
• Effective Date: 15-May-2008
• Refers: ASTM E18-08 - Standard Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness of Metallic Materials
• Effective Date: 15-Jan-2008
• Refers: ASTM E18-07 - Standard Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness of Metallic Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2007
• Refers: ASTM E18-05e1 - Standard Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness and Rockwell Superficial Hardness of Metallic Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Apr-2005
• Refers: ASTM E18-05 - Standard Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness and Rockwell Superficial Hardness of Metallic Materials
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2005
• Refers: ASTM E18-03e1 - Standard Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness and Rockwell Superficial Hardness of Metallic Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-2003
• Refers: ASTM E18-03 - Standard Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness and Rockwell Superficial Hardness of Metallic Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Jun-2003
• Refers: ASTM E18-02 - Standard Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness and Rockwell Superficial Hardness of Metallic Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Refers: ASTM E18-00 - Standard Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness and Rockwell Superficial Hardness of Metallic Materials
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Refers: ASTM A295-98 - Standard Specification for High-Carbon Anti-Friction Bearing Steel
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-1998

Overview

ASTM F2443-04(2021), Standard Specification for Roller, Bearing, Needle, Ferrous, Solid, Spherical End is an internationally recognized standard developed by ASTM International. This specification provides detailed requirements for spherical-ended ferrous needle rollers intended for use as critical components in bearing assemblies. These rollers are manufactured from specific chrome alloy steels (E50100, E51100, E52100) and are used to provide smooth, reliable motion when installed in hardened shafts and housings. The standard sets forth requirements for key roller characteristics, heat treatment, protective coatings, and quality assurance to ensure performance and durability in demanding engineering applications.

Key Topics

• Material Specification: Needle rollers must be made from specified chrome alloy steels, conforming to industry-accepted standards for chemical composition and mechanical properties.
• Dimensional Requirements: The standard defines precise values for diameter, length, and effective length, aligned with MS Part Number assignments commonly used in defense and industrial applications.
• Heat Treatment: Rollers undergo controlled heat treatment to achieve defined hardness levels (Rockwell HRA or HRC), ensuring enhanced wear resistance and load capacity.
• Protective Coating: Applicability of rust-preventative coatings and packaging methods to minimize corrosion during handling, storage, and operation.
• Surface Quality: Requirements stipulate surface finish and permissible variations to ensure smooth operation and minimal friction during use.
• Quality Assurance: Outlines procedures for inspection, certification, and sampling to guarantee product conformance and traceability.
• Packaging and Marking: Guidelines for identifying and packaging needle rollers, particularly for military and high-reliability uses.

Applications

Spherical-ended ferrous needle rollers standardized by ASTM F2443-04(2021) are essential in numerous precision bearing applications, including:

• Automotive bearings: Used in gearboxes, transmissions, and drivetrain components, supporting high rotational speeds and loads.
• Aerospace mechanisms: Meet stringent defense and aviation requirements for performance, reliability, and traceability.
• Industrial machinery: Applied in heavy-duty equipment, conveying systems, and rotating assemblies requiring consistent load distribution.
• Military equipment: Align with Department of Defense specifications and are often specified in critical aerospace and defense systems using MS Part Numbers.
• General Mechanical Engineering: Ensure interchangeability and reliability in diverse engineering contexts.

By adhering to this standard, manufacturers and users can achieve high-quality and consistent performance in bearing assemblies, assuring compatibility with global supply chains and defense contracts.

Related Standards

ASTM F2443-04(2021) references several important industry standards to ensure comprehensive coverage of material, testing, and quality requirements:

• ASTM A295: Specification for High-Carbon Anti-Friction Bearing Steel.
• ASTM E18: Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness of Metallic Materials.
• ABMA 4: Tolerance Definitions and Gauging Practices for Ball and Roller Bearings.
• ANSI/ASQ Z1.4: Sampling Procedures and Tables for Inspection of Attributes.
• ASME B46.1: Standard for Surface Texture (Surface Roughness, Waviness, and Lay).
• ASME Y14.5M: Dimensioning and Tolerancing.
• ISO 5593: Rolling Bearings Vocabulary.
• MIL-STD-129 and MIL-STD-130: Marking for Shipping, Storage, and Identification of U.S. Military Property.
• MIL-DTL-197: Packaging of Bearings and Associated Parts.
• SAE J404, AMS 66, AMS 6440, AMS 6444: Specifications for chemical compositions and processes for steels used in bearing applications.

Understanding and applying ASTM F2443-04(2021) ensures compliance with these related standards, facilitating consistent and reliable needle roller bearing assemblies across industries worldwide.

Keywords: ASTM F2443, spherical end needle roller, bearing roller specification, chrome alloy steel bearing, ferrous needle roller, roller bearing standards, quality assurance, heat treated rollers, rust preventative coating, MS19065, bearing component standards

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation:F2443 −04 (Reapproved 2021)
Standard Specification for
Roller, Bearing, Needle, Ferrous, Solid, Spherical End
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2443; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
1.1 This specification covers ferrous needle rollers having
2.1 ASTM Standards:
spherical ends.
A295 Specification for High-Carbon Anti-Friction Bearing
Steel
1.2 Spherical-ended needle rollers designed to this specifi-
E18 Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness of Metallic Ma-
cation are intended for use as bearing components. A comple-
terials
ment of rollers is run on a hardened (HRC 58-65, see Test
Methods E18) shaft and in a hardened (HRC 58-65) housing
2.2 ABMA Standard:
bore to form the bearing.
ABMA 4 Tolerance Definitions and Gauging Practices for
Ball and Roller Bearings
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
2.3 ANSI Standard:
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 Sampling Procedures and Tables for In-
and are not considered standard.
spection of Attributes
1.4 This specification contains many of the requirements of
2.4 ASME Standards:
MS19065, which was originally developed by the Department
ASME B46.1 SurfaceTexture, Surface RoughnessWaviness
of Defense and maintained by the Defense Supply Center
and Lay
Richmond. The following government activity codes may be
ASME Y14.5M Dimensioning and Tolerancing
foundintheDepartmentofDefense,StandardizationDirectory
2 2.5 ISO Standard:
SD-1.
ISO 5593 Rolling Bearings–Vocabulary
Preparing activity Custodians Review Activities
DLA–GS4 Army–AT Navy–MC
2.6 Military Standard:
Navy–OS Air Force–84
MIL-STD-129 Marking for Shipping and Storage
Air Force–99
DLA–GS4 MIL-STD-130 Identification Marking of U.S. Military Prop-
erty
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
MIL-DTL-197 Packaging of Bearing, Associated Parts and
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
Subassemblies
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
1 4
ThisspecificationisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeF34onRolling Available from Techstreet, 3916 Ranchero Dr. Ann Arbor, MI, 48108, http://
Element Bearings and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F34.01 on www.techstreet.com.
Rolling Element. Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
Current edition approved Jan. 15, 2021. Published February 2021. Originally 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
approvedin2004.Lastpreviouseditionapprovedin2012asF2443–04(2012).DOI: Available from American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), ASME
10.1520/F2443-04R21. International Headquarters, Two Park Ave., New York, NY 10016-5990, http://
The Military codes that are listed in SD-1 give the address and phone numbers www.asme.org.
of the DoD contacts. These are found in the DoD’s ASSIST website: http:// Available on the DOD’s ASSIST internet site located at: http://
assist.daps.dla.mil/online/start/. assist.daps.dla.mil/online/start/.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
F2443−04 (2021)
TABLE 1 Needle Roller with Spherical Ends Dimensions
2.7 SAE Standards:
SAE J404 Chemical Compositions of SAE Alloy Steels MS Part No. D L L
w w we
Roller Roller Effective
SAEAMS 66 Steel: Chemical Composition and Hardenabil-
Diameter Length Length
ity
+0.0000 +0.000
SAE AMS 6440 Specification for Steel Bars, Forging and
−0.0002 −0.020
in. in. in.
Tubing
SAE AMS 6444 Specification for Steel Bars, Forging and MS 19065-1 0.0312 0.190 0.182
MS 19065-2 0.0312 0.250 0.242
Tubing PremiumAircraft Quality for BearingApplication
MS 19065-3 0.0312 0.310 0.302
MS 19065-4 0.0469 0.250 0.238
3. Terminology
MS 19065-5 0.0469 0.310 0.298
MS 19065-6 0.0469 0.380 0.368
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms used in this
MS 19065-7 0.0469 0.440 0.428
specification, refer to ABMA 4 and ISO 5593.
MS 19065-8 0.0625 0.380 0.354
MS 19065-9 0.0625 0.440 0.424
MS 19065-10 0.0625 0.500 0.484
4. Ordering Information
MS 19065-11 0.0625 0.560 0.544
4.1 When ordering parts in accordance with this MS 19065-12 0.0625 0.620 0.604
MS 19065-13 0.0781 0.440 0.421
specification, specify the following:
MS 19065-14 0.0781 0.500 0.481
4.1.1 ASTM designation number, including year of issue,
MS 19065-15 0.0781 0.560 0.541
MS 19065-16 0.0781 0.620 0.601
4.1.2 Dash number (see Table 1),
MS 19065-17 0.0781 0.690 0.671
4.1.3 Dimensions of roller, including:
MS 19065-18 0.0781 0.750 0.731
4.1.3.1 Diameter, in. (mm),
MS 19065-19 0.0938 0.560 0.537
4.1.3.2 Length, in. (mm), MS 19065-20 0.0938 0.620 0.597
MS 19065-21 0.0938 0.690 0.667
4.1.3.3 Effective length, in. (mm),
MS 19065-22 0.0938 0.750 0.727
4.1.4 Level of packaging and preservation (for military
MS 19065-23 0.0938 0.810 0.787
procurements), and MS 19065-24 0.0938 0.880 0.857
MS 19065-25 0.1094 0.620 0.593
4.1.5 Required certifications.
MS 19065-26 0.1094 0.750 0.723
MS 19065-27 0.1094 0.880 0.853
5. Materials and Manufacture
MS 19065-28 0.1094 1.000 0.973
MS 19065-29 0.1250 0.750 0.719
5.1 Rollers—Rollers shall be manufactured of chrome alloy
MS 19065-30 0.1250 0.880 0.849
steel E50100, E51100, E52100, in accordance with SAEAMS
MS 19065-31 0.1250 1.000 0.969
MS 19065-32 0.1250 1.120 1.089
66, SAEAMS 6440, SAEAMS 6444, and Specification A295.
MS 19065-33 0.1250 1.250 1.219
MS 19065-34 0.1562 1.000 0.961
5.2 Theuseofrecycledmaterialsthatmeettherequirements
MS 19065-35 0.1562 1.250 1.211
of the applicable material specification without jeopardizing
MS 19065-36 0.1562 1.500 1.461
the intended use of the item is encouraged.
MS 19065-37 0.1875 1.000 0.953
MS 19065-38 0.1875 1.250 1.203
5.3 Material certifications are required for all materials
MS 19065-39 0.1875 1.500 1.453
used. Each lot of needle rollers shall be traceable to these
MS 19065-40 0.2188 1.000 0.945
MS 19065-41 0.2188 1.250 1.195
certifications. These certifications shall be available for review
MS 19065-42 0.2188 1.500 1.445
by the purchaser and provided to the purchaser when specified
MS 19065-43 0.2500 0.500 0.437
in the contract or purchase order. The needle roller manufac-
MS 19065-44 0.2500 0.750 0.687
MS 19065-45 0.2500 1.000 0.937
turer shall determine conformance of materials on a periodic
MS 19065-46 0.2500 1.250 1.187
basis. These tests may be performed by the manufacturer’s
MS 19065-47 0.2500 1.500 1.437
internal laboratory or by a laboratory external to the manufac- MS 19065-48 0.2500 1.750 1.687
turer. X-ray energy spectrometry, or comparable technology,
may be used for the chemical identification and analysis of the
materials.
6. Other Requirements however, in the case of disputes, a hardness test made on flats of sufficient
width to give a true reading will be considered to be the definitive value.
6.1 Heat Treatment:
6.2 Protective Coating:
6.1.1 Rollers 0.125 in. (3.18 mm) and Smaller Diameter,
6.2.1 Manufacturer shall put rollers in rust-preventative
shall be through hardened to Rockwell HRA 81.2-83.4, in
packaging or coat rollers with rust-preventive film.
accordance with Test Methods E18.
6.2.2 A material certification for the rust preventative shall
6.1.2 Rollers Larger than 0.125 in (3.18 mm) Diameter,
be available for review by the purchaser. The needle roller
shall be through hardened to Rockwell HRC 60 to 64 in
manufacturer shall determine conformance of the rust preven-
accordance with Test Methods E18.
tativematerial(s)onaperiodicbasis.Ifthepurchasermaintains
NOTE 1—Hardness tests can be made using various techniques;
a list of approved rust preventatives, and if the rust preventa-
tive supplied by the needle roller manufacturer is on the
approved list, then the requirement for periodic testing of the
Available fro
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