Round Shaft Technology - Linear Bearings & Linear Guides

Round Shaft Technology utilizes precision round shafting as the guide way, and combines with linear plain bearings or linear ball bearings for movement. While the shafting is often hardened steel, other materials such as stainless steel and hard anodized aluminum are also readily available. All materials are available in the standard industry sizes. RST self lubricating linear plain bearings and linear ball bearings are available wide variety of configurations, and offer solutions for an extensive range of applications. Support rails for round shafting coupled with open bearings offer additional rigidity for heavier loads. Flanged bearings and pillow blocks offer a variety of mounting configurations.

• Simplicity® linear plain and linear ball bearings in imperial, ISO metric, and JIS metric sizes
• Closed, open, and flanged styles in bearing only and housed assemblies
• Selection of shaft materials, length, and configurations

PBC Linear has combined the Frelon material with precision bearing technology to create the Simplicity® linear plain bearing. Simplicity self lubricating plain bearings can move in linear, oscillating, rotary, or any combination of motions at speeds exceeding 4 m/s (165 in/s). Designed to handle loads 20 times greater than linear ball bearings, they will not catastrophically fail.

• Handles loads over 700 kN (157,000 lbs)
  
• Wide temperature range:  -240° C/ 204° C (-400° F/ 400° F)
  
• Low maintenance in contaminated environments
  
• Size interchangeable drop-in replacement for linear ball bearings
  
• Straight OD or optional crowned self-aligning OD
  

Considered by many to be the default choice for linear motion applications, the round shaft reticulating Linear Ball Bearing is a tried and tested option suitable for most linear motion applications. PBC Linear’s bearings are size interchangeable with other ball bearing manufacturers and with PBC’s Simplicity® bearings. Most bearings have an advanced polymer resin cage for quieter operation and they come standard with double seals – at no extra cost. Ball bearing based systems are the ideal solution for applications that demand high rigidity/preload, require low friction or have long moment arms.

PBC Linear has taken the Simplicity® linear plane bearing and put it into a smaller package. Its compact size offers weight advantages, as well as space saving features, while retaining all of the other outstanding features of Simplicity® plane bearing technology. Additional features and benefits include:

• The ability to absorb hard particulates eliminates galling and shaft damage
• Vibration is dampened, offering smooth and quiet linear motion
• Ball-less design will NOT catastrophically fail
• Reliable friction characteristics that do not increase over the life of the bearing

PBC Linear offers several support rail options to simplify mounting of linear shafting.  The durable, anodized aluminum alloy linear shaft support rails are available undrilled or predrilled for use with predrilled linear shafting.  Offered in lengths up to 4’, the support rails can be end joined for longer continuous support. 

• Undrilled and predrilled aluminum support rail in inch sizes from ½” thru 2”
• One-piece ceramic coated aluminum integral shaft and support rail in sizes ½” thru 2”
• Support rail assemblies in ½” thru 2”, cut to length or random lengths

PBC Linear offers linear shafting in a variety of different options to meet a wide range of customer needs.  Available in hardened steel, 440 stainless steel, ceramic coated aluminum alloy, predrilled and undrilled, inch and metric, PBC Linear is perfectly suited to meet and exceed your linear shafting expectations.

• Solid round shafting is available in inch sizes from 1/8” thru 4”, and metric sizes from 3mm thru 80mm
• Pre-drilled shafting for use with support rails is available in all materials and most sizes
• Lengths cut to customer specification & customer machining available upon request

Flange Mount Plane Bearings offer the same great advantages of the Simplicity Linear Plane Bearings and they also incorporate a perpendicular flange for easy mounting.  Flange Mount Linear Plane Bearings come in single and double length and offer Round or Square flanges.  Flange Mount Plane Bearings are available in Imperial (inch), ISO Metric and JIS Metric versions.  Some additional benefits include: 

• The ability to absorb hard particulates eliminates galling and shaft damage
• Vibration is dampened, offering smooth and quiet linear motion
• Custom modifications available – contact an Application Engineer for details

Flange Mount Linear Recirculating Ball Bearings offer the same great advantages of the standard recirculating linear Ball Bearings and they also incorporate a perpendicular flange for easy mounting.  Flange Mount Linear Ball Bearings come in single and double length and offer Round or Square flanges. Flange Mount Ball Bearings are available in Imperial (inch), ISO Metric and JIS Metric versions.  Some additional benefits include: 

• Low Coefficient of Friction
• Built in double seals standard
• Advanced Polymer Resin cage for quieter operation
• Size interchangeable with PBC Linear’s Simplicity bearings and with other manufacturers

PBC Linear has combined the Frelon material with precision bearing technology to create the Simplicity® linear plain bearing and then placed that bearing inside of a housing to create a Self-Aligning, Plain Bearing Pillow Block.  Made to thrive and survive in the presence of contaminants, the self-lubricating liners offer a number of other desirable features:

• The ability to absorb hard particulates eliminates galling and shaft damage
• Vibration is dampened, offering smooth and quiet linear motion

Considered by many to be the default choice for linear motion applications, the round shaft reticulating linear ball bearing is a tried and tested option suitable for most linear motion applications.  These pillow blocks combine PBC Linear’s Linear ball bearings with PBC’s self aligning pillow block to compensate for any misalignment in the application.  Straight bore pillow blocks are also available for applications which demand more rigidity.  PBC Linear’s bearings are size interchangeable with other ball bearing manufacturers and with PBC’s Simplicity bearings.  Most bearings have an advanced polymer resin cage for quieter operation and they come standard with double seals – at no extra cost.  Ball bearing based systems are the ideal solution for applications that demand high rigidity/preload, require low friction or have long moment arms.

Simplicity™ square bearings and plugs offer the same characteristics of the standard round-way Simplicity™ bearings, but in a square package. The square bearings are available in 2-sided and 4-sided versions for options in adjustability.

• Bearing sizes in 1” and 1.5” inside dimension
• Self-lubricating for oil free operation
• Replaceable bearing plugs can be purchased separately and used as a wear pad