DO YOU NEED SELF-LUBRICATING BEARINGS?

In modern machinery offering advanced technology, maintenance managers in this day and age do not have time to waste to manually lubricate bearings. With advancements in bearing technology, industrial facilities can now benefit from self-lubricating bearings. With self-lubricating bearings, productivity can be increased and the cost of maintenance can be reduced.

If you are looking for self-lubricating bearings for your plant or industrial applications, you will find that there are generally three options to choose from on the market. These include oil-filled sintered bronze bearings, self-lubricating metal-polymer bearings, and lubrication-free solid polymer bearings. These types of bearings were all developed between 1930 and the early-1960s.

Before you can decide which type of bearing is best suited to your specific application, there are a few considerations to keep in mind. These include the load expected, the temperatures that the bearing will be exposed to and, of course, the speed at which the bearing is expected to operate. These are not the only considerations though. You will also need to give a great deal of thought to the noise produced by the bearing and what effect dust, chemicals, and other impurities or contaminants will have on the bearing.

Here is what you need to know about each type of bearing:

Oil-filled sintered bronze bearings – these bearings generate a film of lubricant by means of a capillary action. Advantages include a low coefficient of friction and precision at high rotational speeds. These bearings actually require high speed and a rotational movement in order to generate the oil. Should movement cease, the lubricant will dry up. These bearings cannot be used in high-temperature applications.
Self-lubricating metal-polymer bearings – these bearings consist of a metal backing and thin polymer plastic liner. During movement, lubricant is displaced from the plastic liner and onto the shaft. It is advantageous to use this type of bearing in applications where a high load capacity and low coefficient of friction are required. These bearings can be used at high temperatures, but are not suitable for use with oscillating motion or high edge loads.
Lubrication-free solid polymer bearings – these bearings are manufactured from a blend of thermoplastic, embedded fibres, and solid lubricant. They are strong, resistant to high forces and capable of handling edge loads.
You can find a range of self-lubricating bearings here at Technoslide. To learn more about our range, and for accurate quotations, contact us via email or telephone today.

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