Igus also calls it "Slip dry“: The storage of shafts or axles in the Linear Technology and Drive Technology. As with all camps, the principle of action is basically between the two types Sliding and rolling bearings distinguished. While ball bearings are often still preferred as the measure of all things, thanks to innovative high-performance plastics there is an ever-increasing number of applications which Linear bearings speak.
Content of the technical article
- Tribo plastics make plain bearings competitive
- Comparison of bearing material plastic versus metal
- Linear plain bearings for sensitive applications
- Application examples Manus competition
- The Future of Linear Bearings
Are viewed historically bearings the simplest and oldest form of storage. "Even the ancient Egyptians transported the stone blocks for their pyramids on sledges that were pulled out of mud and water using specially hardened transport ramps and with lubrication," says Martin Kochmann, Head of Sales Germany Drylin, at the 2017 specialist press workshop in Cologne. "This age-old principle, which basically still applies today, guarantees a high static load-bearing capacity and at the same time an enormous resistance to movement."
With the development of Bearings the surface contact was reduced to a point contact and a low-friction guidance of the shaft or axis with reduced heat development could be achieved. Wear and lubricant requirements were also lower compared to plain bearings. The rolling elements are an integral part of all rolling bearings - most often in the form of balls, which are usually made of steel.
The Linear ball bearings the rolling elements are moved in a row of balls in an axial revolution. "There was no alternative to ball bearings until special materials made the plain bearings a more powerful and maintenance-free bearing variant," explains Martin Kochmann of the state of the art.
Tribo plastics made sliding bearings competitive
Tribologically optimized Material compounds meanwhile allow the production of polymer plain bearings that do entirely without lubrication. "We see ourselves here as chefs looking for the perfect recipe," says Michael Hornung, International Product Manager Drylin, describing the approach to material development. “We ask ourselves questions like: Which pots do I have? which stove do I use in which environment and who am I cooking for?
Once we have received all the answers from the customer, we put the ingredients together in the form of a material that is conductive, which is used for guests from the underwater Food industry or tool making and so on. Each dish is then cooked individually, ”summarizes Michael Hornung visually.
Sliding elements and counterparts made of tribo-plastics have optimal wear and friction properties. In contrast to corrosion-prone metal bearings, plastic bearings can be used universally. Resistant to moisture and heat, they benefit from the long service life and wear resistance of the plastics.
Comparison of bearing material plastic versus metal
The technical advantage of the polymer bearings (Sliding bushes) compared to the Ball bearings (Ball bushings) in the field of linear and drive technology. Due to the larger contact surface and lower surface pressure, softer shaft or axle materials made of aluminum or carbon fiber, for example, can be used and weight can be saved.
Because there is no mechanical rolling of hard friction partners and there is no collision of the rolling elements, the sliding produces far less Sounds or vibrations. Lining up guide rails for longer stroke lengths is also much easier with linear plain bearings because the grooves that are created can be run over much better by sliding elements than by balls.
in essential, material-related Disadvantage of all rolling bearings consists in limiting the permissible speeds and accelerations. The maximum values are limited, especially with low loads. Polymer sliding bushes, on the other hand, have high sliding speeds and accelerations and significantly increase the number of cycles in many applications.
But the unbeatable advantage is that Lifespan. Bearings made of high-performance polymers are often more durable than a conventional ball bearing can ever be. In addition, this can be calculated using programs. There has also been great progress in terms of precision and friction in recent years. In applications in which alternatives have been used so far, plastic plain bearings are already used and replace the conventional ball bushing there.
Linear plain bearings for sensitive applications
Maintenance and lubricant-free linear plain bearings from the "Drylin” program Of the Motionplastics specialist from Cologne are already applying in many industries because of their performance spectrum. Polymeric linear plain bearings from the profile rail to the complete linear axis are suitable for production processes which impose special requirements on robustness and insensitivity to moisture, chemicals or dirt.
Material and filament 3D printer - durable!
Complete linear units are installed in hygienically sensitive areas such as medical technology, the food industry, clean room technology and in high-temperature systems and guarantee a dirt-resistant and safe drive that enables even high speeds with minimal running noise. The Drylin systems also have a few unique selling points: Only Igus offers sliding elements integrated dirt channelsn, which wipe the dirt particles off the guideway and guide them through the bearing. So no pressure can build up in front of the camp. And in the event of extreme contamination and increased wear, the sliding films can be replaced easily and inexpensively.
Application examples submitted to the Manus competition
Beverage industry from China
A system from Zhengzhou Lichuang Equipment places PET bottles in a row and transports them to the bottling plant. It should be used for different forms - systems used so far are very limited. The optimized version has a high degree of automation, is durable, maintenance-free and universal with regard to the type of bottle. Their capacity is 10.000 units per hour. Conventional linear bearings have high failure rates under this load. The linear plain bearings from Igus used are lubricant-free and maintenance-free, wear-resistant and easy to assemble. A patent has been applied for for this system.
Paper industry from France
Within the Hot foil stamping On DCM ATN paper, polyester strips of variable widths are punched and then transferred to the paper. It is important that the tension of these strips remains homogeneous. Friction should be avoided and acceleration variations should be possible. The system can be optimally used with Drylin, and products from the “Iglidur P210” range are also used.
Yachting from Poland
Pegazus Boats builds yachts and fishing boats from special polyester glass laminate. Now there is an innovative one in the company Sliding system developed for the console. Products from the Drylin WJRM range are used. The sliding console enables speed boats to be controlled from the cabin or on the open deck: thanks to the hybrid Drylin roller and linear plain bearings, which are mounted on double Drylin guides made of anodized aluminum, the position of the steering gear can be changed quickly and easily, and so can the boat Control within the entire range of motion. The bearings are easy to install and also maintenance-free.
Cleaning technology from India
In the cleaning systems from Cleantech Systems Spray nozzles installed, which are controlled via linear bearings. Standard solutions quickly rust and block. They cannot be lubricated in the alkaline water environment. Polymer products from igus solve both problems here. In addition, with the non-rotating Square linear guides Drylin Q can be completely dispensed with a second guide.
3D printing from Bulgaria
A prototype of a 3D printer with FDM technology from Rast prints at a speed of up to 450 mm / s and an acceleration of up to 4000 mm / s² with an accuracy of 0,01 mm on the X and Y axes and up to 50 µm resolution on the Z axis. The machine has a large working area with dimensions of 360 x 360 x 400 mm. Plastic bearings from Igus are used for the axles. The printer can process all filament materials. The light aluminum linear shaft works quietly even at high acceleration.
The Future of Linear Bearings
Low cost automation 
is the magic word that Tobias Vogel, authorized signatory for plain bearings + linear technology, describes as a dream of the future for the linear guides introduces: "In addition to industry, we also see future success in consumer products". These include e-bikes, pizza machines, bathroom fittings, extractor hoods, fitness equipment, office chairs and drones. In the business-to-customer area, the 3D printer as a kit or camera technology is on the rise.
In the low cost Industrial robotsproduction, Tobias Vogel also sees a big increase. In Asia alone, demand would almost double between 2014 and 2018. “We see each other in the area of portals for Cartesian robots, where we can offer easy, maintenance-free, inexpensive solutions - from a modular model based on a Lego model, ”the authorized officer announces the new product strategy.
The idea is to offer both the individual linear components and entire kits that the customer can put together. "Based on the customer 's idea, we offer him one Online Configurator Selection mechanisms with which he can click on his / her solution individually. At the end there is a list of parts, a price, the CAD data as well as information on delivery time, weight etc. "
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