The Timken Company recently released Bearing Selection Guide Version 3.0 for users, including original equipment manufacturers, distributors, students and engineers. The new electronic guide contains engineering calculations and a database of more than 5,000 bearings including tapered, spherical, cylindrical and needle roller bearings, as well as ball bearings.

The software program is an interactive tool that enables users to select the most appropriate Timken® bearings for a given application. The program provides users a reliable, easy-to-use method for building an application model and selecting the right bearings to satisfy specific dimension and performance requirements, according to the company.

The new version offers improvements to previously available functions, including engineering calculations, search capabilities and average bearing life predictions. Additionally, designers are able to share the applications created with a local Timken representative or authorized distributor for further discussion on alternative scenarios and selection recommendations.

The program, which is compatible with a number of Microsoft® Windows platforms, is available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Chinese. To assist users, bearing selection scenarios and a detailed user manual are available.

“This new guide is designed to simplify the bearing selection process for customers. It’s also an alternative to using hard-copy catalogs when searching for bearings,” says Ravi Bhatia, Timken’s vice president ? engineering and integration. “For many of our customers, this new tool can lead to reduced engineering time, better designs and an improved performance.”