Making hydraulic cylinders robust and economical with iglidur plain bearings

For this application, a plain bearing was sought that was available at short notice, was robust and could withstand the various weather conditions in which the hydraulic cylinders are used. In addition, the previously used metallic solution made of brass was relatively cost-intensive.

With plain bearings made of iglidur® G offer a wide standard programme, which is available directly from stock. In addition, this no minimum order quantity can be ordered cost-effectively online. Even under the most adverse conditions, from temperatures between -15°C and +70°C, the bearings offer an excellent coefficient of friction. Their special material composition means that no additional lubricants are required. They are therefore insensitive to dust and dirt.

In order to fulfil these requirements, he attaches great importance to the right suppliers: "Wherever the hydraulic cylinders have to move, we rely on the plain bearings from igus®". This co-operation has proven its worth for more than ten years. We receive orders within half a week." The installed "iglidur® G" products score points not only for their short delivery times but also for their technical advantages. Compared to the brass bushes previously used, they are significantly more economical. In addition, the bearings, which are used with diameters of 20 to 45 millimetres, prove to be extremely wear-resistant and weatherproof.

The robustness of the bearing is particularly important for design manager Wichert: "As our customers are based in southern Germany as well as in Switzerland and Dubai, the prevailing temperatures can fluctuate between -15 °C and +70 °C. In addition, the salinity of the air is a major factor. Added to this is the salt content in the air and the winter road clearance service. We can't afford any downtime here." Uwe Sund, igus® sector manager agricultural engineering, can only confirm this experience: "Bearings made of iglidur® G cover the widest range of different requirements. This is why the material is rightly described as universal. We recommend it for applications with medium to high loads, medium sliding speeds and medium temperatures."

iglidur® G is available as a sleeve bearing, plain bearing with flange and thrust washer. igus® helps the designers with a catalogue of recommendations for the multitude of possibilities. The machine elements are predestined

• for extremely high loads,
• at low to medium sliding speeds,
• if the bearing is to be suitable for different shafts,
• for simple swivelling and rotating movements,
• if the bearing is to be extremely versatile (over 650 dimensions are available from stock),
• when dry operation is required,
• if the bearing is to be insensitive to dirt and
• for strong vibrations.

However, Uwe Sund points out: "Friction and wear depend heavily on the mating partner. Shafts that are too smooth, for example, have a negative effect on the application. However, we can make specific recommendations via our test laboratory in Cologne." A ground surface with a centre roughness value Ra of 0.8 μm is best suited for iglidur® G. Furthermore, the recommended hardness of the shaft increases with increasing load. After all, "soft" shafts tend to wear and thus increase the susceptibility of the overall system. Sund continues: "We always offer corresponding tests as a service for our customers. This means that the right plain bearing can be found for every desired shaft material."