The 5 Major Benefits of Polymer Bearings

Also, it's important not to confuse high-performance plastic bearings with plastic bearings from a local injection molder. With iglide® plastic bushings, you can accurately calculate the life of a bearing according to wear rates, actual testing results and specific application parameters. igus® provides the Expert System—a complimentary database where users enter the maximum loads, speeds, temperatures, and shaft and housing materials, which then prompts the system to calculate the appropriate plastic bearing and its expected lifetime based on real-world testing.

5 Major Benefits of Polymer Bearings

igus®' iglide® plastic bushings constitute the step from a simple plastic bushing to a tested, predictable and available machine component. They offer many advantages, but these five would make the top of any engineer's list:

1. Freedom from maintenance: Plastic bushings can replace bronze, metal-backed and custom injection-molded bearings in almost any application. Their resistance to dirt, dust and chemicals make plastic bearings a 'fit-and-forget' solution.

5. Cost savings: Plastic bushings can reduce costs up to 25%. They feature high wear resistance, a low coefficient of friction and can replace more costly alternatives in a variety of applications.

9. No messy lubricants: Self-lubricating bearings transfer lubricant onto the shaft to help lower the coefficient of friction and are impervious to dirt, dust or other contaminants.

13. Consistent coefficient of friction (COF): Plastic bearings are designed to maintain a low COF consistently over the lifetime of the bearing. Compared to metal-backed bearings, which can become scratched and increase the COF, plastic bearings often last longer.

17. Corrosion- and chemical resistance: Plastic bearings can be used in wash-down applications, salt water and harsh chemicals without compromising performance. Water can even be considered as a lubricant for plastic bearings.