EN 6046:2026

• Abstract:

  This document specifies the characteristics of inch based spherical plain bearing, metal to metal, in corrosion resisting steel, narrow series.; They are intended for use in fixed or moving parts of the aircraft structure and their control mechanisms.; They are used in the temperature range as determined by the grease capability as below:; - code A: greased as per MIL-PRF-23827 Type I, operating temperature range −73 °C to 121 °C;; - code B: greased as per MIL-PRF-81322, operating temperature range −54 °C to 177 °C.; The range of application for bearings lubricated with grease per code A is limited to 121 °C.; In both cases the spherical surface of the outer or inner ring are provided with a dry-film lubricant as per MIL-PRF-46010 or equivalent (anti-seizing protection).; The slide hole treatment either at the outer ring or inner ring.

• Status: Not Published
• Publication Date: 06-Oct-2026
• ICS: 49.035 - Components for aerospace construction
• Technical Committee: ASD-STAN - Aerospace
• Drafting Committee: ASD-STAN/D 3/S 1 - Parts of Mechanical Systems
• Current Stage: 6055 - CEN Ratification completed (DOR) - Publishing
• Start Date: 19-Jan-2026
• Completion Date: 19-Jan-2026
• Ref Project: kSIST FprEN 6046:2025 - Aerospace series - Bearing, spherical, plain, in corrosion resisting steel - Narrow series - Dimensions and loads - Inch series

• Revises: EN 6046:2020 - Aerospace series - Bearing, spherical, plain, in corrosion resisting steel - Narrow series - Dimensions and loads - Inch series
• Effective Date: 30-Aug-2023

Overview

EN 6046:2026 is a European standard from CEN that specifies the requirements for inch-based spherical plain bearings in corrosion-resisting steel, narrow series, intended for aerospace applications. The document outlines key dimensions, tolerances, materials, surface treatments, load capacities, and clearances for these metal-to-metal bearings. Designed for integration into both fixed and moving parts of aircraft structures and their control mechanisms, EN 6046:2026 ensures high performance and reliability under the demanding conditions typical of aerospace environments.

Key Topics

• Bearing Characteristics
  The standard defines spherical plain bearings with corrosion-resisting steel construction, providing detailed guidance on configuration, dimensions (inch series), tolerances, and mass.

• Material and Surface Treatment
  Bearings must be made from specific steel alloys and hardening processes to meet aerospace durability requirements. The document includes requirements for both inner and outer ring treatments and optional cadmium plating for enhanced protection.

• Lubrication and Operating Temperature
  Two lubrication codes are specified:

  • Code A: Greased per MIL-PRF-23827 Type I, for use from −73°C to +121°C.
  • Code B: Greased per MIL-PRF-81322, suitable for −54°C to +177°C. Both require anti-seizing dry-film lubrication on spherical surfaces, following MIL-PRF-46010 or equivalent.

• Design and Marking
  Clear rules for bearing designation (including codes for grease, clearance, diameter, grease holes, swaging groove, and surface treatment) and mandatory product marking in accordance with EN 2424 ensure traceability and compliance.

• Quality Management
  The manufacturer must operate under an approved quality management system (e.g., EN 9100) suited to aerospace products, and use established qualification procedures, promoting consistent quality and airworthiness.

Applications

• Aircraft Structures
  The bearings specified in EN 6046:2026 are used for both fixed and moveable components within aircraft, supporting functions that demand high performance under significant loads, exposure to harsh environmental conditions, and varying temperatures.

• Control Mechanisms
  Their robust construction and precision tolerances make these bearings ideal for aircraft control systems, where smooth, reliable articulation is critical for safety and performance.

• Corrosive Environments
  Thanks to their corrosion-resistant properties, these spherical plain bearings are suitable for aircraft operating in high-humidity, marine, or chemical environments, offering long-term service life and reduced maintenance needs.

Related Standards

• EN 2337: Aerospace series - Spherical plain bearings - Technical specification
  Details technical requirements and testing for aerospace bearings.

• EN 9100: Quality Management Systems - Requirements for Aviation, Space and Defence Organizations
  Establishes quality system criteria widely accepted in the aerospace industry.

• EN 2424: Aerospace series - Marking of aerospace products
  Specifies marking requirements for aerospace components.

• MIL-PRF-23827 & MIL-PRF-81322: US military performance standards for grease, governing operating temperature ranges for the bearings.

• EN 3161 & EN 2030: Standards for steel alloys used in aerospace, referenced for materials.

• EN 2133: Guidance on cadmium plating, where required for enhanced corrosion resistance.

For aerospace engineers, manufacturers, and quality assurance professionals, compliance with EN 6046:2026 is critical for ensuring reliable component performance and alignment with stringent industry and regulatory requirements. By adhering to this standard, organizations can improve component interoperability, enhance safety, and streamline maintenance and procurement of spherical plain bearings in critical aerospace applications.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
oSIST prEN 6046:2024
01-julij-2024
Aeronavtika - Kroglični drsni ležaji iz korozijsko odpornega jekla - Ozki tip - Mere
in obremenitve - Palčne mere
Aerospace series - Bearing, spherical, plain, in corrosion resisting steel - Narrow series -
Dimensions and loads - Inch series
Luft- und Raumfahrt - Gelenklager aus korrosionsbeständigem Stahl - Schmale Reihe -
Maße und Belastungen - Inch-Reihe
Série aérospatiale - Rotule lisse en acier résistant à la corrosion - Série étroite -
Dimensions et charges - Série en inches
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 6046
ICS:
21.100.01 Ležaji na splošno Bearings in general
49.035 Sestavni deli za letalsko in Components for aerospace
vesoljsko gradnjo construction
oSIST prEN 6046:2024 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

oSIST prEN 6046:2024
oSIST prEN 6046:2024
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 6046
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
June 2024
ICS 49.035 Will supersede EN 6046:2020
English Version
Aerospace series - Bearing, spherical, plain, in corrosion
resisting steel - Narrow series - Dimensions and loads -
Inch series
Série aérospatiale - Rotule lisse en acier résistant à la Luft- und Raumfahrt - Gelenklager aus
corrosion - Série étroite - Dimensions et charges - Série korrosionsbeständigem Stahl - Schmale Reihe - Maße
en inches und Belastungen - Inch-Reihe
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee ASD-
STAN.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations
which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.

This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2024 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 6046:2024 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

oSIST prEN 6046:2024
prEN 6046:2024 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms, definitions and symbols . 5
4 Requirements . 6
4.1 Configuration, dimensions, tolerances and mass . 6
4.2 Surface roughness . 6
4.3 Material . 6
4.4 Surface treatment . 6
4.5 Loads and clearances . 6
5 Designation . 14
6 Marking . 15
7 Technical specification . 15
8 Quality management systems. 15
Bibliography. 16

oSIST prEN 6046:2024
prEN 6046:2024 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 6046:2024) has been prepared by the Aerospace and Defence Industries
Association of Europe — Standardization (ASD-STAN).
After enquiries and votes carried out in accordance with the rules of this Association, this document has
received the approval of the National Associations and the Official Services of the member countries of
ASD-STAN, prior to its presentation to CEN.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
This document will supersede EN 6046:2020.
prEN 6046:2024 includes the following significant technical changes with respect to EN 6046:2020:
— normative references updated;
— value of alpha for diameter codes 14 and 16 in Table 1 corrected.
oSIST prEN 6046:2024
prEN 6046:2024 (E)
Introduction
This document is published at edition P7. Former editions P1 to P6 and drafts may exist for Airbus
development only but without any ASD-STAN official publication. In consequence configuration
management discrepancies with these unofficial documents are under Airbus responsibility.
oSIST prEN 6046:2024
prEN 6046:2024 (E)
1 Scope
This document specifies the characteristics of inch based spherical plain bearing, metal to metal, in
corrosion resisting steel, narrow series.
They are intended for use in fixed or moving parts of the aircraft structure and their control
mechanisms.
They are used in the temperature range as determined by the grease capability as below:
— code A: greased as per MIL-PRF-23827 Type I, operating temperature range −73 °C to 121 °C;
— code B: greased as per MIL-PRF-81322, operating temperature range −54 °C to 177 °C.
The range of application for bearings lubricated with grease per code A is limited to 121 °C.
In both cases the spherical surface of the outer or inner ring are provided with a dry-film lubricant as
per MIL-PRF-46010 or equivalent (anti-seizing protection).
The slide hole treatment either at the outer ring or inner ring.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 2030, Aerospace series — Steel X105CrMo17 (1.3544) — Hardened and tempered — Bars —
D ≤ 150 mm
e
EN 2133, Aerospace series — Cadmium plating of steels with specified tensile strength ≤ 1 450 MPa,
copper, copper alloys and nickel alloys
EN 2337, Aerospace series — Spherical plain bearings — Technical specification
EN 2424, Aerospace series — Marking of aerospace products
EN 3161, Aerospace series — Steel FE-PM3801 (X5CrNiCu17-4) — Air melted, solution treated and
precipitation treated, bar a or D ≤ 200 mm, R ≥ 930 MPa
m
ISO 1132-1, Rolling bearings — Tolerances — Part 1: Terms and definitions
ISO 8075, Aerospace — Surface treatment of hardenable stainless steel parts
TR 4475, Aerospace series — Bearings and mechanical transmissions for airframe applications —
Vocabulary
3 Terms, definitions and symbols
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in TR 4475 apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp/
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
oSIST prEN 6046:2024
prEN 6046:2024 (E)
Symbols of limit deviations are in accordance with definitions of ISO 1132-1.
𝛼𝛼 maximum angle of tilt of the outer ring with respect to the inner ring, with the spherical
surface of the outer ring being completely in contact with the inner ring
C permissible static axial load
a
C permissible static radial load
s
∆ single plane mean bore diameter deviation
dmp
∆ single plane mean outside diameter deviation
Dmp
∆ deviation of a single bore diameter
ds
∆Ds deviation of a single outside diam
...