What are plain bearings and what advantages igus offers?
Vishaka Upreti | 2 December 2020
Introduction to Plain Bearings
Plain bearings or commonly known as “bush”, bush bearing”, “bushing”, slide bearing” etc. are a much older technology when compared with Ball bearing systems. Humans have been using plain bearings since year 3000BC. These are the simplest form of bearings without any rolling elements.
Key Features Required in Plain Bearings
Some of the most desired features of a plain bearings are – it should have low friction, low wear, corrosion resistance, resistance to high temperatures etc. Considering these requirements, most commonly used materials for plain bearings include bronze, brass, PTFE coated on metal etc.
Metallic bearings cannot always offer all the desired features. For an instance, a bronze bearing may have higher coefficients of friction and need to be used with lubrication. Plastic bearings could match most of the desired features of a plain bearing but plastics like nylon and delrin may have limitations with the load carrying capacity, moisture absorption etc.
How Polymer Compounding Improves Plain Bearings
Thankfully, compounding of polymers overcomes these limitations. Compounding of polymers is the process of blending plastics with other additives in order to change the mechanical, thermal, electrical characteristics of the polymer.
igus makes plain bearings from a range of compounded polymers. These plain bearings are known as Iglidur polymers. Igus bearings are made of extremely wear resistant tribo-polymers, solid lubricants and strengthening materials. igus has one of the biggest test lab in the industry where it develops hundreds of new iglidur materials every year, and does more than 10000 tests every year for friction and wear values with different shaft materials. This real time testing creates a possibility to do a real time life calculation of bearing.
Choosing the Right iglidur Bearing Material
It is the biggest advantage that you can choose the correct iglidur material for your application using the online lifetime calculation tools expert for plain bearing and product finder for plain bearings.
iglidur bearings are widely used across applications involving rail guides, pillow blocks, and other motion components, where reliability and wear resistance are essential. They also complement systems such as drylin linear systems, which are designed for smooth and maintenance-free motion.
Advantages of iglidur Plain Bearings
- Lubrication and Maintenance-Free Operation
One of the major advantages of iglidur plain bearings is that they function as self-lubricating bearings, eliminating the need for external lubrication and reducing maintenance requirements.
- Corrosion and Media Resistance
iglidur bearings offer excellent resistance against chemicals and moisture, making them ideal corrosion resistant bearings for demanding industrial environments.
- High Wear Resistance
Designed using advanced tribo-polymers, iglidur plain bearings deliver exceptional wear resistance and long-lasting performance.
- Lightweight Construction
Compared to conventional metallic alternatives and Ball bearing systems, iglidur bearings are lightweight, making them suitable for applications where weight reduction is important.
- Low Coefficient of Friction
The integrated solid lubricants ensure smooth operation with low friction, even in challenging operating conditions.
- Predictable Lifetime
The extensive testing carried out by igus enables users to accurately estimate the service life of bearings. This predictability is also one of the key drylin linear systems benefits, helping engineers optimize machine performance and maintenance schedules.
Conclusion
With their maintenance-free design, high wear resistance, and reliable performance, iglidur plain bearings offer an efficient alternative to conventional bearing technologies. Backed by extensive testing and lifetime calculation tools, igus helps users select the right bearing solution for a wide range of industrial applications.