New Hybrid Linear Bearing Combines Rolling and Sliding

According to Wikipedia, the word "hybrid" is used in engineering to describe "a system where two technologies are combined together". Cologne-based linear technology expert igus has now done this with a completely new type of cost-effective hybrid linear bearing that rolls and slides. The new hybrid bearing "DryLin WJRM" has been developed with the aim of reducing driving force, in particular that is required for the manual adjustment of doors, guards, partitions and adjustable locks, as well as for light handling tasks. For this purpose, igus has utilised the specific advantages of the sliding and rolling movements and combined these.

Reducing Driving Force

Lubricant-free plastic sliding plain bearings ensure the hybrid linear system is robust, insensitive to dirt and humidity, as well as light in weight and low in cost. The polymer rollers, which are also maintenance-free, bring ease of use where heavy machine and protective doors up to 50 kg have to be adjusted by hand. At a defined installation position, the driving force required is reduced by a factor of 4 to 5, due to the roller bearing, which bears the main load. This makes manual operation so much easier.

Low Design Height

The new hybrid bearing is extending the tried and trusted "DryLin W" linear guide family from Cologne by a further solution. For this purpose, the extremely compact system was modelled by the igus design engineers in such a way that the rollers fit inside without increasing the design height, which remains at a low 18 mm.

According to information from the manufacturer, the standard economic guide profiles can also be used. These are available in three styles for shaft diameter 10 mm: As individual rails for flexible guiding distance and as double rails with a shaft distance of 40 mm or 80 mm for fast installation without time-consuming alignment. The hybrid bearing housing is made of blue-chromed die cast zinc.

Lubricant-free & Insensitive to Dirt

"DryLin W" is a flexible modular system made of hard anodised aluminium profiles, die cast zinc housings, fine-cast stainless steel or aluminium and plastic plain bearings. The wide variety of elements within this easy-to-install system allows users to optimise the available design space. Combined with different carriage lengths, the rail widths permit many combinations. The four design sizes range from 6 mm to a shaft diameter of 20 mm. All the "DryLin W" guide systems work without lubricants as so-called dry-running systems, which means they do not have to be serviced during operation. The linear bearings are offered with the polymer sliding bearings "iglidur J" or "iglidur J200". Both materials stand out due to low wear and low friction values. In addition, they are resistant to chemicals, dampen vibrations and hardly absorb any humidity.

New Addition to Hybrid Technology

Further to the high interest on the Drylin WJRM-10 size, with igus India alone selling over 500 sets in 6 months time, igus GmbH has added two more new sizes to this product profile. From June -2010 the size WJRM-16 and WJRM-20 are available and this parts can take much higher loads compared to the 10 size, along with "No Lubrication".

[Deepak Paul, National Sales Manager, igus? (India) Pvt Ltd, Bangalore. Tel: 080-39127812. Fax: 91-80-39127802. Email: deepak@igus.in]