For confined spaces and where low weight is crucial, the motion plastics specialist igus has developed thin-ring bearings which conform to DIN 625. The xiros plastic ball bearings are suitable for a wide variety of in-vehicle applications – they are self-lubricating and therefore maintenance-free, as well as having very low friction properties.
Temperature, ventilation or chassis dynamics – all of these and more can be adjusted in the car with the turn of a dial. Since weight is minimised to ensure good fuel economy and space is usually at a premium, the new xiros thin-ring bearings of series 67 and 68 are particularly suitable. Available in two different materials (xirodur B180 and xirodur S180) these bearings are offered as standard with internal diameters of between 4 and 30mm. Special dimensions or customer-specific integrated solutions are available upon request. For both xirodur materials, the balls are available made of stainless steel (1.4401 grade) or, for a completely non-magnetic version, glass. To achieve further weight reductions, balls made of plastic are also possible on request.
The xiros thin-ring bearings are suitable for application temperatures between -40°C and +80°C. In addition, to them being self-lubricating, they are corrosion-resistant. These bearings have also endured various arduous tests at the igus test laboratory with results indicating that they are suitable for several hundred million cycles within permissible loads.
"As with all xiros ball bearings, the frictional torque of our thin-ring bearings is particularly low," Robert Dumayne, director, igus, said. "Therefore, no break-out torque can be felt when they are moved, which, for example, ensures very good haptics when used on rotary knobs.”