SKF
Sensor Bearings
SKF sensor bearings are mechatronic machine components that combine a shielded sensor body, a magnetic impulse ring, and a high-quality deep groove ball bearing into a single, ready-to-mount unit. Unlike conventional bearing arrangements that require separate external encoders, sensors, brackets, and wiring, SKF sensor bearings integrate all measurement capability within the bearing's dimensional envelope. They accurately measure shaft speed, rotational direction, relative position, and acceleration — data critical for motor control systems, anti-lock braking systems (ABS), electric vehicle traction motors, and industrial automation. The sensor body contains Hall-effect cells that detect the changing magnetic field as the impulse ring rotates with the inner ring, generating clean digital output signals. For design engineers developing compact, reliable machines and OEMs seeking to reduce component count and assembly time, SKF sensor bearings deliver proven sensing performance in a package that mounts like any standard ball bearing.
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Trusted by Industry Leaders
Plug-and-Play Mechatronic Unit
The sensor body, impulse ring, and bearing are mechanically attached at the factory, maintaining tight tolerances and arriving as a single component ready for immediate installation.
Eliminates External Sensors & Brackets
By integrating sensing within the bearing, designers can eliminate separate encoders, mounting brackets, couplings, and associated wiring — reducing component count, assembly time, and potential failure points.
Measures Multiple Operational Parameters
SKF sensor bearings provide signals for speed (RPM), rotational direction, relative angular position, and acceleration — supporting motor control, positioning, and condition monitoring functions from a single device.
Shielded Sensor Design for Electromagnetic Compatibility
The sensor body incorporates shielding that protects signal integrity in the electrically noisy environments typical of industrial motor drives and automotive power electronics.
Proven Across Industrial & Automotive Applications
SKF sensor bearings have demonstrated reliability in electric motors, electric vehicles, road rollers, tractors, forklifts, conveyors, and material handling systems worldwide.
Fifth-Generation Design with Continuous Improvement
SKF has manufactured sensor bearings since 1995, and the latest generation incorporates EMC filtering for enhanced protection against power surges and electrical interference.
How SKF Sensor Bearings Improve Motor Control Systems
Precise motor control depends on accurate, real-time knowledge of shaft speed and position. Traditional approaches use separate encoders or resolvers mounted on the motor shaft, requiring additional shaft length, couplings, and mounting structures. SKF sensor bearings simplify this architecture by integrating the sensing function directly into the motor's bearing arrangement. The result is a more compact motor design, reduced bill of materials, faster assembly, and improved reliability. In variable-frequency drive applications, the clean digital signals from SKF sensor bearings enable tight speed regulation and smooth low-speed operation. For servo motor manufacturers, the elimination of external feedback devices creates competitive advantages in both product cost and performance density.
Automotive Applications: From ABS to Electric Vehicle Traction
SKF sensor bearings have been widely adopted in automotive applications that demand reliable wheel speed sensing. In anti-lock braking systems, sensor bearings in front and rear wheel hubs provide the speed data needed for brake pressure modulation during emergency stops. Electric and hybrid vehicle traction motors use sensor bearings to provide the precise rotor position feedback essential for efficient motor commutation and regenerative braking control. Agricultural machinery, construction equipment, and material handling vehicles employ sensor bearings to enable automated functions such as speed-dependent steering assistance and traction control. The sealed, robust construction of SKF sensor bearings withstands the water, dirt, temperature extremes, and vibration common in mobile equipment environments.