Precisely adjustable plastic plain bearings in surgical lights from TRUMPF

• What was needed: iglidur ® plain bearing technology
• Requirements: clearance-free and noise-free running, high hygiene requirements, lubrication- and maintenance-free function
• Industry: Medical technology
• Success for the customer: The iglidur® bearings work reliably and without external lubrication. Thanks to the low coefficient of friction in dry operation and the very low stick-slip tendency, the system is noise-free and enables precise adjustment of the operating theatre lights.

The TRUMPF Group is a renowned manufacturer of machine tools. However, the company also covers other sectors, such as medical technology. In the field of surgical lights, TRUMPF develops and produces the iLED series, which features innovative concepts, long-lasting LED technology, adjustable colour temperatures, integrated camera technology and shadow correction.
Another important specification of these surgical lights is the motorised, flexibly adjustable LED wings, which are designed to provide the best possible illumination of the patient during operations.
The pivoting movement requires plain bearings, which are subject to the highest demands in terms of hygiene and freedom from lubricants, especially in the highly sterile environments in which the operating theatre lights are used. They must also function reliably and maintenance-free at all times.

Today, preloaded bearings made of the high-performance material iglidur® fulfil this task. Like all bearings from the iglidur® programme, they work reliably over the long term without any external lubrication and are therefore maintenance-free. In addition to the long running performance, the bearings also stand for maximum comfort in terms of noise development. So that the surgeon can concentrate fully on his work, there must be no distraction from the moving components of the operating lights. Here, the particularly low coefficient of friction in dry operation and the very low stick-slip tendency play in favour of the staff in the operating theatre. The clearance-free mounting of the plain bearings was also required here in order to ensure precise and problem-free adjustment of the lights at any time according to the user's wishes.