A crown cage — also called a snap cage or comb cage — is a single moulded or stamped ring with open pockets on one side. The balls are pressed in and retained by the pocket lips. It is the cheapest way to cage a small bearing and it is used in enormous volumes in appliances, power tools and small fans.
The pocket opening is slightly smaller than the ball, so the ball snaps in and is retained by the elastic lip. There is no second half and no rivets. Assembly is a single press operation, which is why the design dominates high-volume production.
Retention depends on the lip staying elastic. Under heavy load, high temperature or repeated shock the lip yields and the ball can escape — after which the bearing destroys itself in seconds. Crown cages are for light, clean, well-lubricated duty.
| Construction | One-piece ring with open pockets |
|---|---|
| Materials | Polyamide or stamped steel |
| Assembly | Balls pressed into the pockets |
| Load | Light to moderate — the pocket lip retains the ball |
| Cost | The lowest |
| Typical sizes | Small to medium bore |
| Typical use | Appliances, power tools, small fans, toys |
| Criterion | Crown | Riveted | Machined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pieces | One | Two + rivets | One or two |
| Ball retention | Elastic lip | Mechanical | Mechanical |
| Load capacity of cage | Light | Moderate | High |
| Assembly cost | Lowest | Moderate | Highest |
| Temperature | Material dependent | Material dependent | Material dependent |
The default — cheap, strong, temperature-safe
Read →Machined brass — the high-end standard
Read →PA66 — quiet and cheap, 120 °C limit
Read →Resin-bonded fabric — highest speed
Read →Two stamped halves joined by rivets
Read →One-piece machined — for large roller bearings
Read →Yes. Crown, comb, snap and clip cage all describe the same one-piece open-pocket design.
Yes, under overload or overheating. It is the usual failure mode in cheap bearings pushed beyond their duty.
Because assembly is a single press operation, which makes them cheap at high volume without a real loss of performance at light load.
Send the designation, the three dimensions and the quantity — we reply with price, brand options and lead time within 30 minutes on working days.