Drawn cup needle roller bearings are complete bearing units consisting of a thin-walled, drawn outer cup and a needle roller, available in full complement or cage assembly. Needle rollers have particularly compact radial dimensions and require a hardened and ground shaft as a raceway. Inner rings can be used for applications where it is impractical to use the shaft as the inner raceway.

Drawn cup needle bearings are ideal for housing bores that are of low rigidity like cast iron, aluminum or plastic. Mechanical efficiency is improved with needle roller bearings because the rotating radius and torque is small. Due to the small bearing volume and weight, the moment of inertia of the bearing is minimized when put in motion, therefore requiring lower torque.

Choosing a bearing with a closed end will protect against moisture and contaminants and also help prevent injury from exposed rotating shafts. A sealed bearing is intended for retaining grease and for keeping out contaminants and spray. Drawn cup needle rollers are offered in two types; caged or full complement.