Pre-loaded deep groove ball bearing

A mechanical assembly comprising:

• a shaft having a central axis and an outer circumferential surface with an outside diameter, the shaft being formed such that a value of the outside diameter has a tolerance of greater than plus or minus thirty-two microns (>+/−32μ);
• a housing disposed about the shaft and having an inner circumferential surface spaced radially outwardly from the inner surface of the shaft and having an inside diameter, the housing being formed such that a value of the inside diameter has a tolerance of greater than plus or minus fifty microns (>+/−50μ);
• a bearing inner ring having an inner circumferential surface disposed about the outer circumferential surface of the shaft, an outer circumferential surface and at least one annular groove extending radially inwardly from the outer circumferential surface, the groove having an outside diameter with a minimum value at a central section of the groove, the bearing inner ring being sized such that the inner circumferential surface of the inner ring engages with the outer circumferential surface of the shaft with a transition fit or a clearance fit;
• a bearing outer ring disposed about the inner ring and having an outer circumferential surface disposed against the inner circumferential surface of the housing, an inner circumferential surface and at least one annular groove extending radially outwardly from the inner circumferential surface, the groove having an inside diameter with a maximum value at a central section of the groove, the bearing outer ring being sized such that the outer circumferential surface of the outer ring engages with the inner circumferential surface of the housing with a transition fit or a clearance fit;
• a plurality of balls disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring, each ball being sized having a diameter with a value greater than half of a difference between the maximum value of the inside diameter of the outer ring groove and the minimum value of the outside diameter of the inner ring groove;
• and
• at least one of an inner clamp configured to axially and/or radially retain the inner ring on the inner member and an outer clamp configured to axially and/or radially retain the outer ring within the outer member.