Upload the CAD model of the part to the igus website, select printing material, for example iglidur i180, a highly wear-resistant, high-performance plastic, and place your order immediately. The part is usually shipped within 24 hours. In the urgent case of Ferenc Tiefenbach, the bearing was ready for collection a few hours after the order was made. Thus, the exhibit was once again ready for the trade show. Tiefenbach is convinced: "It is remarkable that igus is able to manufacture a single component so quickly despite the size of the company." The costs are also reasonable, at €96 for the component.
Among other things, we use the material iglidur i180 for 3D printing. The high-performance plastic is impressive with its high wear resistance. Its superiority over the classic filament made of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) has been proven in experiments in the igus test laboratory. Plain bearings moved on a 0.37m hard-anodised aluminium shaft at a speed of 0.34m per second and a surface pressure of 0.11MPa. The result: The 3D-printed bearing made of ABS showed a wear rate of 13.3μm per km. For the bearing made of iglidur i180 over the same distance, the wear amounted to only 0.8μm. However, the bearings are not only more durable, they are also more economical in operation. They allow for maintenance-free dry operation without the need for lubricating oil. Thus, they are the ideal candidates for Blackcam's camera dollies.