Linear bearing product attributes

Linear ball bushings are sold by shaft diameter, which hides the most common mistake in the category. Several dimension series exist for the same shaft size, with different outside diameters and lengths, so a 12 mm bushing from one series will not fit a housing bored for another. Supplier listings frequently give the shaft size and a part number and leave the series to be inferred.

Body configuration and sealing multiply the variants. Closed, open and adjustable bodies suit different shaft supports, and seals or wipers may be fitted on one end, both ends or neither. Designation suffixes for these features differ by manufacturer, so the same bushing can appear under several codes. Each feature needs its own controlled field, decoded from the manufacturer's key rather than guessed from the string.

Load ratings are the other trap. Manufacturers quote dynamic load ratings against different rated travel distances, so identical bushings can show noticeably different numbers. Without the rating basis, comparisons mislead. Shaft requirements, such as hardness and tolerance, also decide real service life and are rarely present in supplier files even though every buyer needs them.

The linear bearings attribute template

18 candidate fields in 5 groups, ordered the way a record gets built: identify the item, capture its specifications, then record fit and the evidence behind any claim. 9 are marked Core: without them the item cannot be identified or filtered. Example values show the expected format only; they do not describe a real SKU.

Identity

Which exact item, variant and pack this record describes.

Check before use: Preserve leading zeros and punctuation, validate against the manufacturer record, and check the GTIN check digit and packaging level before linking.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Manufacturer Part Number manufacturer_part_number	Identifier	Core	LB-LME25-2S
GTIN gtin_13_upc_a	Identifier	Channel / evidence	4812345025015

Technical specifications

Measured or rated values that must travel with their unit and test conditions.

Check before use: Store the number and unit separately. Convert only when the source unit and test conditions are known.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Nominal Shaft Diameter (d) nominal_shaft_diameter_bore_d	Number · mm	Core	25 mm
Outside Diameter (D) outside_diameter_d	Number · mm	Core	40 mm
Overall Length (L) overall_length_l	Number · mm	Core	58 mm
Basic Dynamic Load Rating (C) basic_dynamic_load_rating_c	Number · N	Buyer decision	1,560 N
Basic Static Load Rating (C0) basic_static_load_rating_c0	Number · N	Buyer decision	2,740 N
Rated Travel Life Basis rated_travel_life_basis	Controlled list	Buyer decision	100 km

Selection attributes

The type, material and option choices buyers filter and compare on.

Check before use: Map supplier wording to a governed vocabulary only after checking the source text and which variant it applies to.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Bearing Type bearing_type	Controlled list	Core	Recirculating linear ball bushing
Body Configuration body_configuration	Controlled list	Core	Closed
Seal / Wiper Configuration seal_wiper_configuration	Controlled list	Core	Sealed both ends
Self-Aligning self_aligning	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Yes
Sleeve & Ball Material sleeve_ball_material	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Bearing steel sleeve, steel balls

Fit & compatibility

What the item mounts to, mates with, replaces or works alongside.

Check before use: Keep model and series qualifiers. A similar-looking part is not a verified fit until a source says so.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Dimension Series dimension_series_interchange_standard	Controlled list	Core	LME (European metric series)
Mounting Style mounting_style	Controlled list	Core	Cylindrical, retaining ring grooves
Recommended Shaft Tolerance & Hardness recommended_shaft_tolerance_hardness	Text	Buyer decision	h6, 60 HRC minimum

Evidence & compliance

Listings, standards, classifications and origin claims that need a document behind them.

Check before use: Link the manufacturer document or label with its edition or date. Never copy a certification from a neighboring SKU.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Country of Origin country_of_origin	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	TW
RoHS Status rohs_status	Controlled list	Channel / evidence	Compliant (per supplier declaration)

Normalize supplier values

The same value arrives in many spellings. Map each raw string to one governed value, and keep the raw text beside it so a reviewer can see what the supplier actually wrote.

Often missing from supplier files

These fields are commonly absent from price lists and basic feeds, even though the information usually exists in a datasheet, label or installation manual. Treat an empty value as a request for evidence, not as permission to fill it from a similar model.

• Rated travel life basis
• Recommended shaft tolerance and hardness
• Open-type body opening angle
• Maximum operating temperature
• Interchange / cross-reference part numbers

Questions the record must answer

Buyers and counter-sales reps choosing linear bearings ask questions like these. Each one needs a specific field, sourced for the exact variant.

• Will this bushing drop into my existing housing, or is it a different series with the same shaft size?
• What shaft hardness and tolerance does it need to reach its rated life?
• Is there an open version of this bushing for a supported shaft rail?
• Is it available in stainless for a washdown area?

From supplier file to record

1. Resolve identity first. Link the supplier SKU, manufacturer part number and packaging identifiers without merging distinct variants or pack sizes.
2. Extract with the source attached. Pull values from rows, tables and datasheets, keeping the raw text, unit and page or row reference.
3. Map to your classification. Assign the ETIM, ECLASS, UNSPSC or internal class your company licenses, and keep the supplier's original terms.
4. Review, sync and watch. Hold conflicts and safety-related values for a category expert, write approved values to ERP or PIM, and recheck when the supplier sends a new file.

For the full method, see how to build a category attribute template and the category catalog gap audit.

FAQ