A comparison of different bearing types

Plain bearings with a lubrication groove are made from a solid material. They are often made of steel, bronze or other metals. The sliding properties of these bearings are achieved by lubrication channels or lubrication grooveswhich are incorporated into the surface of the bearing. Through these channels, the grease is better distributed throughout the bearing position. However, this also means that the storage location must be permanently lubricated. Solid plain bearings can be Pick up large loads and are therefore often used in larger storage locations. However, they are also comparatively expensive due to the complex processing and the solid material.

Benefits

• High load capacity
• Protection against corrosion and dirt if lubrication is maintained
• Lubrication grooves ensure the distribution of lubricant

plastic plain bearings - design and function

Plain bearings made from solid plastic are often injection-moulded components or components made from bar material. 3D printing or laser sintering are also common manufacturing processes. Many plastics are suitable for use in plain bearings. Depending on the type, they also have other specifications, such as High chemical resistance or Resistance to high temperatures up to approx. 300°C. As these plastics are available in granular form before processing, they can be mixed relatively easily with other additives such as solid lubricants, fibres or fillers, as well as additives. This mixture of materials is then fused in the processing stage. This results in components whose specifications go beyond those of the plastics originally used. So you can very stable, particularly smooth-running and self-lubricating plain bearings can be produced.

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Benefits

• Consistent sliding properties over the entire wall thickness
• Weight saving compared to metal bearings
• Self-lubricating  and maintenance-free
• Resistant to chemicals and media
• Versatile design possible
• Very little space required
• Resistant to dirt
• Cost-effective

Sintered bearings are named after their method of manufacture. They usually consist of bronze powder, which is compressed under high pressure and high temperatures. This process is called sintering. Due to the grain size of the powder, the bearing has pores after production. The bearings are soaked in oil, which then settles in the pores. During use, the oil in the sintered bearing is heated by frictional heat, becomes more fluid and is thus released from the pores. The storage location must therefore be lubricated. sintered bearings are relatively cost-effective and, due to their mode of operation, are particularly suitable for bearing positions with higher rotational speeds and less for slow swivelling movements.

Benefits

• If the bearing position is correctly dimensioned and designed, the bearing is maintenance-free.
• The lubricant is released during movement and "stored" again when stationary
• robust and pressure-resistant.

Fibre composite plain bearings - design and function

In fibre composite plain bearings, for example, fibres made of glass, carbon, cotton or plastic fibres are woven, combined with synthetic resins and other additives and pressed together, sometimes under high temperatures and pressure. This results in Extremely resilient bearingThe strength of which, depending on the type of load, can even come close to that of metallic bearings. Different winding and weaving techniques can also be used to create different layers, which in turn have different specifications. Often a robust fabric as outer shell, while an iThe inner layer reduces friction in the bearing.

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Benefits

• Suitable for high loads
• Self-lubricating and therefore low-maintenance
• Large dimensions are often cheaper than comparable metal bushes
• Corrosion-free