What type of load primarily affects angular contact ball bearings?

Angular contact ball bearings are specifically designed to handle both radial and axial loads, making them versatile for various applications. The unique design of these bearings features an angle that allows them to bear loads more effectively in specific directions. This angled contact means that they can accommodate significant axial loads, as well as the radial loads typically seen in rotating machinery.

When angular contact ball bearings are subjected to radial loads, they can also sustain a component of axial load due to their contact angle. This capability allows them to be used in applications where there are forces acting in both directions, such as in electric motors, rotary tables, or machine tool spindles.

Understanding that angular contact ball bearings are not limited to just radial or just axial loads, but can handle both simultaneously, is essential for ensuring the right type of bearings is selected for a given application. This characteristic is what distinguishes them from other types of bearings that may only address one type of load effectively.