What do John Deere, Boeing and NASA have in common? Apart from being industry leaders, they all make use of self-lubricating plain bearings. You may ponder how a self-lubricating plain bearing can lubricate without the incorporation of external lubricants. Well, the straightforward answer to this question is that they run by having solid lubricant saturated within the sliding later of the bearing.
Self-lubricating plain bearings can offer similar thermal & mechanical performance to externally lubricated needle and roller bearings across many points of measurement. By eradicating the need for eternal lubricants, they also provide flexibility in a wide array of industrial applications.
Self-lubricating plain bearings also offer good wear & low-friction performance in unfavorable conditions.
Why do traditional bearings fail?
When conventional bearings break down or are replaced would be the ideal time to appraise your bearing needs as well as to determine what occurred in the application that led to a malfunction. If bearings are designed & applied properly, the most common cause of malfunction is insufficient lubrication, which usually results from seal damage or poor lubrication.
The next most frequent cause of bearing break down is spalling on the raceway or rolling elements. This can happen as a consequence of weariness strain or system swerves that trigger localized high-stress concentrations on the edges of the rolling elements and/or raceways.
Decreasing downtime:
Plain bearing may even be able to help you in your attempt to decrease maintenance interruption. The slim, one-piece design lets drastic space & weight savings by reducing the housing size. The uncomplicated installation into simple machined housing also helps to prevent fitting damage compared with rolling-element bearings. In contrast, industrial bearings are complicated and need precise installation, making them more suitable for applications needing an accurate shaft location and/or very low friction. Moreover, the non-metallic plain bearings can proffer enhanced erosion resistance in comparison to typical rolling-element bearings.
What are the advantages of plain bearings?
The best benefit of plain bearing is its capability to decrease or eradicate the use of external lubricants. It is essential to keep in mind that some plain bearings do need external lubricants, though often in much lower quantities compared to conventional bearings. Making use of bearings that are self-lubricating can also make your operation more Eco-friendly and save you money.
Other benefits include a higher load ability with shock load resistance & a superior contact zone, enhanced bearing lifespan under oscillatory movements, reimbursement for misalignment & vibration curbing, quitter performance with the absenteeism of moving components, and decreased costs of shaft and housing surface finishes and rigidity treatments.
Concerning the environment, new bearing materials are regularly being developed to meet environmental regulations. These new inventions can also offer longer lifespan under unfavorable conditions and allow more accurate installations.