With experience, inspectors can identify the smallest flaw from their sound. Dust, for example, makes an irregular crackling. Ball scratches make a consistent popping and are the most difficult to identify. Inner-race damage is normally a constant high-pitched noise, while a damaged outer race makes an intermittent sound as it rotates.

Bearing defects are further identified by their frequencies. Generally, defects are separated into low, medium, and high wavelengths. Defects are also referenced to the number of irregularities per revolution.

Low-band noise is the effect of long-wavelength irregularities that occur about 1.6 to 10 times per revolution. These are caused by a variety of inconsistencies, such as pockets in the race. Detectable pockets are manufacturing flaws and result when the race is mounted too tightly in multiplejaw chucks.

Medium-hand noise is characterized by irregularities that occur 10 to 60 times per revolution. It is caused by vibration in the grinding operation that produces balls and raceways. High-hand irregularities occur at 60 to 300 times per revolution and indicate closely spaced chatter marks or widely spaced, rough irregularities.

Classifying bearings by their noise characteristics allows users to specify a noise grade in addition to the ABEC standards used by most manufacturers. ABEC defines physical tolerances such as bore, outer diameter, and runout. As the ABEC class number increase (from 3 to 9), tolerances are tightened. ABEC class, however, does not specify other bearing characteristics such as raceway quality, finish, or noise. Hence, a noise classification helps improve on the industry standard.

数控机床虽然各种数控机床的功能和应用各不相同，但它们有着共同的优点。这里是数控设备提供的比较重要的几个优点。

  各种数控机床的第一个优点是自动化程度提高了。零件制造过程中的人为干预减少或者免除了。整个加工循环中，很多数控机床处于无人照看状态，这使操作员被解放出来，可以干别的工作。数控机床用户得到的几个额外好处是：数控机床减小了操作员的疲劳程度，减少了人为误差，工件加工时间一致而且可预测。由于机床在程序的控制下运行，与操作普通机床的机械师要求的技能水平相比，对数控操作员的技能水平要求（与基本加工实践相关）也降低了。文献综述

数控技术的第二个优点是工件的一致性好，加工精度高。现在的数控机床宣称的精度以及重复定位精度几乎令人难以置信。这意味着，一旦程序被验证是正确的，可以很容易地加工出2个、10个或1000个相同的零件，而且它们的精度高，一致性好。

大多数数控机床的第三个优点是柔性强。由于这些机床在程序的控制下工作，加工不同的工件易如在数控系统中装载一个不同的程序而己。一旦程序验证正确，并且运行一次，下次加工工件的时候，可以很方便地重新调用程序。这又带来另一个好处—可以快速切换不同工件的加工。由于这些机床很容易调整并运行，也由于很容易装载加工程序，因此机床的调试时间很短。这是当今准时生产制造模式所要求的。

运动控制—CNC的核心

任何数控机床最基本的功能是具有自动、精确、一致的运动控制。大多数普通机床完全运用机械装置实现其所需的运动，而数控机床是以一种全新的方式控制机床的运动。各种数控设备有两个或多个运动方向，称为轴。这些轴沿着其长度方向精确、自动定位。最常用的两类轴是直线轴（沿直线轨迹）和旋转轴（沿圆形轨迹）。

普通机床需通过旋转摇柄和手轮产生运动，而数控机床通过编程指令产生运动。通常，几乎所有的数控机床的运动类型（快速定位、直线插补和圆弧插补）、移动轴、移动距离以及移动速度（进给速度）都是可编程的。