The 3D printing of lubrication-free and maintenance-free plain bearings made of tribo-polymers allow a high degree of freedom in engineering design and, at the same time, maintain a high level of wear resistance of the components that are used. In order to achieve this, igus is researching and developing new 3D materials for moving applications. Due to the extensive series of tests conducted in the industry's largest test laboratory, igus is able to predict the service life of the additive manufactured customised polymer bearings for users online.

Knowing the service life of the bearing system is an unbeatable advantage when it comes to operating moving applications safely and reliably. This is exactly where the online tools from the motion plastics specialist igus step in: they enable the exact calculation of the service life of igus products on the basis of the research and test results in the industry's largest test laboratory. In the test lab all iglidur plastics, among other things, are intensively tested for wear and friction. In the process, 10,000 tests per year provide the data base for the online service life calculator. In just four steps, the iglidur expert system registers the individual requirements and then provides the user with a comprehensive suitability and service life analysis of all lubrication-free and maintenance-free iglidur materials online. This precise service life calculation is not limited to injection-moulded iglidur plain bearings, but is also available for 3D-printed bearings.

With the recent offer of six tribo-filaments for the FDM process as well as two materials for the selective laser sintering, plain bearings, among other things, can be manufactured and used in industrial applications immediately. With the 3D printing service, you can produce in just three simple steps - from configuration to ordering, prototypes or special parts for small batches - easily, quickly and at a low cost. More economical material and lower energy consumption as well as a quick and customised production open up enormous savings potential. Due to the extensive tests in the laboratory, as with the injection moulded parts, the service life of the additive manufactured parts can be accurately predicted. This unique service life calculation of 3D printed bearings is incorporated in the iglidur Expert for the iglidur I3 and I180 tribo-filaments.