When it comes to choosing the proper bearing, PBC Linear often refers customers to begin with the popular acronym, POSTLUDES. In brief, this stands for:
Within this informal guidance acronym, our experience has shown us that the number one factor in bearing selection is the environment in which that bearing will be used. While the description above for environment is broadly described as hazards, maintenance, and contaminants, the term can cover a range of materials and forces including temperature and humidity, corrosive cleaners and washdown fluids, sticky substances, welding slag, and various types of fine to large particulates. The spectrum of harshness can range from class 1 clean room (cleanest) up to high contamination (dirtiest).
There are key considerations to address when establishing how the environment will affect your linear motion system.
Once you have understood the critical needs within your application environment, PBC Linear can provide a wide range of bearing choices for many of those less-than-ideal environments. The following provides details and charts to help match those environmental problems with optimal solutions.
Sticky substances can be found in beverage dispensers, sugar plants, and filling applications, and are handled best by V-Guide rollers. The V-profile channels contamination and clears the raceways, while ball bearings roll and stick. Plain bearings don't fare well either, allowing sticky substances to fill up the running clearance between the bearing surface and raceway.
Welding cinder or slag can splatter and stick to steel and stainless steel components on V-Guide products, and inhibit travel on ball bearings. Applications such as robotic welders, weld stations, and plasma cutters team up best with plain bearing technology that is combined with our patented FrelonGOLD liner. Its inherent wiping action provides excellent resistance to weld splatter, and has no small raceways to plug. Read our application story on Welding and Automotive Manufacturing.
Dry powder environments are characterized as having fine, powdery particulates, with typical applications that include brick grinding, paper cutting, and gun mounting systems for the military. The video above, Simplicity Linear Bearings vs Bronze Bushing: Dirty Environment Demonstration, provides a simple but enlightening demonstration on the effects of fine particulates on bearings, and the advantages of Simplicity plain bearing over roller bushings within these environments. In the video, our Simplicity bearing is put into a bag with Portland cement. The inherent wiping action is evident, as is the close tolerance between shaft OD and bearing ID that works to keep out contaminants.
Washdown environments are predominately found in food processing applications. Bearing systems have a range of conditions to take into account, from high-pressure sprays and temperature to corrosive detergents. The harshest environments require plain bearing systems with stainless steel, while ball bearings allow contaminents to enter. Read our Linear Motion Design for Washdown Applications white paper for more information on washdown environments, or read our application story Washdown in Bottling Automation.
Large particulates can often contain wood or metal chips, with typical applications including wood milling and foundries. The close fit of plain bearings are ideal as they wipe away debris, while ball bearings will be inhibited by particles filling the raceways. V profiles will also work because of their ability to channel contaminates. Please read our application story on Simplicity in the Woodworking Industry.
With correct product selection, engineers can overcome most environmental challenges, allowing their linear motion systems to run at a high efficiency rate.
Indoor The indoor application examples below feature these ideal product solutions.
Outdoor The outdoor application examples below feature these ideal product solutions.
Operating Temperatures
Humidity Levels
Consider selecting these PBC Linear corrosion resistant products when relative humidity levels exceed 70%.
For a good reference that details chemicals versus product use, download the Simplicity Chemical Reaction chart.
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