What makes the bearing self-aligning and what to consider in the part selection process.

In this article, we will define self-aligning sliding bearings, introduce how they are formed, understand their material composition, design and application, and then summarize some of the things that need to be considered in the part selection process. Other resources will be included for further research.

What makes the bearing sliding and self-aligning? Bearings can adjust friction in two main ways: through mechanical components, such as rolling balls, such as ball bearings, or through non-mechanical components, such as plastics, which can contain solid lubricants and other materials, eliminating the need for external grease and preventing damage. In itself. The latter mechanism is non-mechanical and is the so-called sliding bearing.

Self-aligning means that the bearing can handle various types of motion, such as tilt, swing, and linear motion, not just the axial motion of the rotating shaft. The key here is that something needs to be aligned horizontally, vertically or flatly. If the alignment or angle is not completely consistent, the bearing structure will compensate for the movement, avoid excessive friction, and the machine can continue to run without failure.

Therefore, the self-aligning sliding bearing is a bearing without mechanical parts, which can compensate for misalignment in the bearing system.

The self-aligning bearing consists of two parts. First, they have an inner spherical ball. The shaft or main shaft passes through the inside of that spherical ball. The latter part is installed in a larger part called the housing, which can take various designs. Some internals are detachable and some are fixed.

To learn more about plastic self-aligning sliding bearings, please watch this video, visit our website or call us at 1-800-965-2496.

Design In order to adapt to different applications, self-aligning sliding bearings have a variety of designs, including rod end joint bearings (pictured above), U-shaped joints, two-bolt and four-bolt flange bearings (pictured below) and pillow block bearings. Since they all compensated for the misalignment in some way, they are all united together. The shapes of their internals and shells are different.

Materials Their two components can be made of different materials, usually plastic or metal. These parts can all be plastic, as shown in the figure above, or they can all be metal, or a combination of inner parts or outer shells. Metal or plastic linings are sometimes included to enhance the strength or flexibility of larger designs.

Compared with metal bearings, plastic self-aligning sliding bearings have many advantages. Read more to understand these main advantages.

Application areas are diverse, including food industry, packaging, heavy-duty, automotive, renewable energy, and automation. Where do self-aligning bearings come from?

The self-aligning sliding bearing comes from the metal counterpart (referred to as the self-aligning bearing) invented by James Nasmyth in 1838. The inventor noticed that the rotating shaft would eventually be unevenly placed in the supporting bearings at both ends. Uneven placement can occur due to unexpected "changes in bearing support level", conditions in dark places, or difficult access to parts. The latter two will cause uneven installation (in modern times, people also admit that even curved shafts may be the culprit). Under these conditions, friction, heat and even fire can be increased.

To solve this problem, James Nasmyth therefore invented a self-aligning metal bearing. If when the system encounters a misalignment, the bearing will compensate for this error by allowing a given in the direction in which the movement occurs, without damaging the housing or adding excessive friction. Motion compensation will include swing (left and right, up and down) and linear (forward and backward) movements in these systems.

Since 1838, self-aligning bearings have made great progress, as there are now more materials and design options to choose from, including self-lubricating, corrosion-resistant, lightweight and maintenance-free high-performance plastic balls and bearing seats.

Are plastic parts beneficial for your application? Please call us at 1-800-965-2496 for details. We are happy to help you choose the right solution. www.igus.ca

Refer to https://www.anvilfire.com/21centbs/stories/James_Nasmyth/index_chapter_jnivb.htm

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