Simplicity - Designed to Last

Simplicity linear bearings withstand the test of time

For over 30 years, the Simplicity® self-lubricating bearings from PBC Linear has stood the test of time. Often called the “little red bearing” by loyal customers, they have been a popular replacement for failing ball bearing technology. Where ball bearings can seize and catastrophically fail, Simplicity bearings will out-perform and last years longer. Below are some notable limitations and negative outcomes for ball bearings:

  • Premature failure due to contamination and lack of lubrication
  • Counter rotation that creates stick slip
  • Scored shafting that significantly reduces accuracy
  • Catastrophic failure

In harsh environments such as carpet tufting, granite cutting, or foundry-work, our Simplicity linear bearings have been proven to withstand extreme temperatures, dirt, submersion, and high vibration without failure. The FrelonGOLD® or FrelonJ® liners succeed by eliminating the need for lubrication and metal to metal contact. Fines will embed in the liners, eliminating shaft damage, while wiping action cleans the shaft. The outstanding performance of Simplicity bearings in harsh environments includes:

  • Wide temperature range (−400°C to 400°C)
  • Lowered wear resistance and friction of 60%
  • Increased load capacity of 100%
  • Enhanced load dispersion

The results are a reduction in downtime, cost savings, and increased overall satisfaction of the customer. For clean environments, the Simplicity bearing is a great choice:

  • It does not require messy lubrication
  • It does not emit harmful particulates
  • It does not contain moving parts with the potential for failure
  • It can be used in most wash down and submersion applications (with the patented FrelonJ liner)

Simplicity linear bearings are offered in inch, metric and Japanese metric sizes. We have also added many options over the years, including precision and compensated, open and closed, and self-aligning.

How long will Simplicity linear bearings last?

Simplicity self-lubricating linear bearings are designed to provide extended life for your linear motion. Our customers often ask the question, “How long will Simplicity linear bearings last?” In order to answer that common question, we have performed real-world tests right here at our facility. Here is what we have found:

  • Rolling element linear bearing’s life expectancy is usually expressed in total inches or meters. A rolling element rotary bearing’s life expectancy is expressed in hours of operation. Both are also rated for average (L-50) and minimum (L-10) life. L-50 life is the average life that can be expected from 50% of rolling element bearings. In other words, 50% will not reach the average life expectancy. L-10 life is the minimum life (1/5 the average life) expected from 90% of rolling element bearings. In other words, 10% will not reach the minimum life expectancy. Theoretically they could fail upon installation.
  • Plain bearings are not rated by a life expectancy but by the wear rate of the bearing material. Wear is greatly dependent upon the proper application of the bearing and material used. If it is not properly applied, the bearing may fail. Failure, however, is subjective and dependent upon specific application requirements. A running clearance of 0.002" may not be acceptable in one application while another may be able to run a bearing until the liner is completely worn through. The user may then rotate it 30 degrees and continue to run it. This broad range of acceptability makes it difficult to determine life expectancy.

The first step is to determine what wear is acceptable for your application. Then, utilizing the test data on this page, you can estimate the wear expected for your given application.

Conducted By: PBC Linear
Bearing Material: FrelonGOLD
Shaft Material: Standard RC60 steel shafting
Surface Finish: 8-12 RMS
Speed: 140 fpm (70 cycles/min; 1,680"/min; 100,800"/hour; 2,419,200"/day)
Stroke: 12"
Load: 10.87 psi (53 lbs.)
Bearings Used: FLN12 (3/4" open style bearings)
Lubrication: None
Total Travel of Test: 105,840,000"
Total Wear to Bearing Material: .00042"
Note: Wear is an average of totals taken from 4 bearings per carriage.

Simplicity Overview Figure 2
Simplicity Overview Figure 2a

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