Making the switch from a rolling ball bearing to a sliding plastic linear bearing can drastically reduce failure, downtime and costs.

Drylin plastic linear solutions from igus are optimized to make the systems maintenance-free. They are also self-lubricating, quiet, lightweight and resistant to shock, corrosion and dirt.

Self-lubricating

igus plastics are engineered with base polymers for wear resistance, fibers and filaments for reinforcement, and solid lubricants to lubricate the system independently and reduce friction. When movement occurs in the linear systems, there is a material transfer of the lubricant into the micro-finish of the shaft. Once the transfer is made, the material cannot be washed away, meaning the systems operate without any external lubrication.

Shock resistant

The plastic sliding elements and the overall design of drylin make the systems extremely resistant to strong shocks and impacts. Primarily, the plastics are embedded with fibers and filaments, which help to absorb high forces and edge loads. The maximum recommended surface pressure for drylin goes as high as 150 MPa (21,756 PSI).

Corrosion-resistant

The combination of corrosion-resistant thermoplastic bearing liners and rail systems made of soft stainless steel or hard-anodized aluminum makes drylin very resistant to corrosion. Ball bearings can damage soft stainless steel, and therefore require a hardened surface. Hardened stainless steels, however, are more prone to corrosion. The drylin combination of highly alloyed stainless steel (e.g. 316T) with high-performance plastic (e.g. iglide T500/X) is ideal in cleaning-intensive industries, filling equipment, food processing and packaging, and saltwater applications.

Dirt-resistant

Drylin linear bearing systems are engineered to have an extended, continuous service life, even when put in environments subjected to dirt or dust. The sliding elements made of high-performance plastics do not require any external lubrication and thus give ambient dust, dirt, sand or chips little chance to adhere.

The geometry of drylin gives it additional dirt resistance. The patented grooves serve two important purposes. If thermal expansion occurs, the grooves swell away from the shaft, which prevents the bearing from seizing. The grooves also act as dirt channels so dirt and debris can easily pass through the bearing system.

Quiet operation

All drylin plastic linear bearing solutions are exceptionally quiet-running. Since drylin systems slide on low-friction plastic instead of rolling on steel balls, significantly less noise and vibration is generated. The average noise output of drylin technology is 20 dB, making it four times quieter than corresponding metal. Metallic bearings have a noise level comparable to a running vacuum, whereas drylin is equivalent to a running refrigerator.

Lightweight

Conventional recirculating ball bearings are predominately made of heavy steel, whereas drylin linear technology uses plastics and aluminum, making drylin much lighter and more versatile. Energy consumption and emissions are reduced by the low weight, and physical load and transport costs are reduced. The lightweight design allows high acceleration of the sliding elements, which reduces mass inertia and can decrease wear on motors, pulleys and other machine components.