iglide plastic bearings used in SAE Baja Competition

Canadian students take top honors at multinational,
off-road vehicle competition with the aid of
iglide plastic bearings

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. – November 29, 2007 – For the second consecutive year, a student team from the Université de Sherbrooke, a university located in Québec, Canada, used iglide® plastic bearings from igus® Inc., the industry-leading developer Energy Chain Systems®, Chainflex® continuous-flex cables and DryLin® linear bearings. The team of 10 employed iglide Q on a student-designed, student-built and student-operated, off-road vehicle for competition in the 2007 Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Baja Competition. The bearings, donated through igus’ Y.E.S. (Young Engineers Support) Program, were used at various pivot points on both the rear suspension and throttle and break controls of the vehicle.

As part of the competition, the students’ vehicle had to negotiate its way through tough, rugged terrain, in all types of weather without incurring any damage. Unlike metal or bronze bearings, iglide Q is able to endure various environmental elements such as rain, mud, salt and dirt without corroding or failing. These features made iglide Q an ideal solution for the team.

Iglide Q’s lightweight, plastic construction paired with its ability to handle up to 14,500 pounds per square inch (PSI) was also a big plus for the team. It enabled the students to build strong, yet lighter weight suspension and breaking systems, which made the vehicle faster and more compact.

“Iglide Q bearings enabled us to design a torsion bar integrated into the pivot of our trailing-arm rear suspension,” said Benoit Poulin, Université de Sherbrooke SAE team member. “Compared with regular ball bearings, we saved weight and gained a maintenance-free bearing with trouble-free operation. Both systems worked really well without wear or friction.”

The Université de Sherbrooke SAE team competed in both the Baja SAE UCF (University of Central Florida) and Baja SAE RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology). The team turned in impressive performances, coming in first overall at UCF and second overall at RIT. Among a number of other awards, the students took home top honors in the endurance race and for vehicle design at both competitions.

Iglide Q from igus can be paired with an array of different shaft materials such as stainless steel or hard-anodized aluminum; and its high-load capacity makes it a viable choice for material-handling machinery, scissor lifts, motorcycle stands, lift tables and amusement park rides. Contact igus at (888) 803-1895 or e-mail sales@igus.com for samples of iglide Q, available in a variety of both metric and inch sizes.

To learn more about the Université de Sherbrooke SAE team, visit http://mecano.gme.usherbrooke.ca/~baja/bajasite/index.htm. To become a member of the Y.E.S. Program, contact Courtney Toomey, Y.E.S. program administrator, via e-mail at ctoomey@igus.com.

About igus
Igus Inc., founded in 1985 and based in East Providence, R.I., develops and manufactures industry-leading plastic cable carriers, continuous-flex cables, plastic bearings and linear guide systems. With more than 28,000 products available from stock, the company meets the motion control and machinery component needs of customers worldwide. Product lines include Energy Chain Systems to protect and house moving cables, Chainflex continuous-flex cables, iglide self-lubricating, oil-free, plastic bearings, DryLin linear guide systems and igubal® spherical bearings. For more information, contact igus at (800) 521-2747 or visit www.igus.com.

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iglide, igus, Energy Chain Systems, Chainflex, DryLin and igubal are registered trademarks of igus Inc. All other company names and products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

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	Download now Hi-Res/Lo-Res Download now Hi-Res/Lo-Res View the entire igus photo gallery and get other images and captions for print or online publication! Go now!			Canadian students take top honors at multinational, off-road vehicle competition with the aid of iglide plastic bearings EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. – November 29, 2007 – For the second consecutive year, a student team from the Université de Sherbrooke, a university located in Québec, Canada, used iglide® plastic bearings from igus® Inc., the industry-leading developer Energy Chain Systems®, Chainflex® continuous-flex cables and DryLin® linear bearings. The team of 10 employed iglide Q on a student-designed, student-built and student-operated, off-road vehicle for competition in the 2007 Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Baja Competition. The bearings, donated through igus’ Y.E.S. (Young Engineers Support) Program, were used at various pivot points on both the rear suspension and throttle and break controls of the vehicle. As part of the competition, the students’ vehicle had to negotiate its way through tough, rugged terrain, in all types of weather without incurring any damage. Unlike metal or bronze bearings, iglide Q is able to endure various environmental elements such as rain, mud, salt and dirt without corroding or failing. These features made iglide Q an ideal solution for the team. Iglide Q’s lightweight, plastic construction paired with its ability to handle up to 14,500 pounds per square inch (PSI) was also a big plus for the team. It enabled the students to build strong, yet lighter weight suspension and breaking systems, which made the vehicle faster and more compact. “Iglide Q bearings enabled us to design a torsion bar integrated into the pivot of our trailing-arm rear suspension,” said Benoit Poulin, Université de Sherbrooke SAE team member. “Compared with regular ball bearings, we saved weight and gained a maintenance-free bearing with trouble-free operation. Both systems worked really well without wear or friction.” The Université de Sherbrooke SAE team competed in both the Baja SAE UCF (University of Central Florida) and Baja SAE RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology). The team turned in impressive performances, coming in first overall at UCF and second overall at RIT. Among a number of other awards, the students took home top honors in the endurance race and for vehicle design at both competitions. Iglide Q from igus can be paired with an array of different shaft materials such as stainless steel or hard-anodized aluminum; and its high-load capacity makes it a viable choice for material-handling machinery, scissor lifts, motorcycle stands, lift tables and amusement park rides. Contact igus at (888) 803-1895 or e-mail sales@igus.com for samples of iglide Q, available in a variety of both metric and inch sizes. To learn more about the Université de Sherbrooke SAE team, visit http://mecano.gme.usherbrooke.ca/~baja/bajasite/index.htm. To become a member of the Y.E.S. Program, contact Courtney Toomey, Y.E.S. program administrator, via e-mail at ctoomey@igus.com. About igus Igus Inc., founded in 1985 and based in East Providence, R.I., develops and manufactures industry-leading plastic cable carriers, continuous-flex cables, plastic bearings and linear guide systems. With more than 28,000 products available from stock, the company meets the motion control and machinery component needs of customers worldwide. Product lines include Energy Chain Systems to protect and house moving cables, Chainflex continuous-flex cables, iglide self-lubricating, oil-free, plastic bearings, DryLin linear guide systems and igubal® spherical bearings. For more information, contact igus at (800) 521-2747 or visit www.igus.com. ### iglide, igus, Energy Chain Systems, Chainflex, DryLin and igubal are registered trademarks of igus Inc. All other company names and products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.