Abstract: A method for treating the surface of a machine element, such as the raceway and/or a rolling element of a rolling element bearing, comprising the steps of—subjecting the surface to a hard turning operation so as to obtain a specific roughness profile having a series of alternating ridges and grooves,—after the hard turning operation subjecting the surface to a ball calendering operation so as to flatten the ridges of the roughness profile whereby a ?q value smaller than 5° is obtained.

Abstract: A rolling element bearing comprises an inner ring and an outer ring which are each provided with a raceway, and a series of rolling elements which are in contact with the raceways of each ring. A lubricant film is provided in the contacts between the rolling elements and the raceways, which film forms a lubricant meniscus at the inlet side of each contact. In the bearing starved lubrication conditions prevail. The surface of each rolling element has minute recesses filled with a lubricant quantity, said recesses being flattened in the contact area defined by the contact between the rolling elements and the rings and thereby releasing lubricant at the inlet side of each contact resulting in a displacement of the meniscus further away from said contact. This meniscus displacement results in an increased lubricant film thickness in each contact area, thus improving the lubricating conditions in the bearing.