Engineering notes on plain bearings
The questions our engineers answer most often, written up once. Each note is short enough to read before you call and specific enough to use in a design review.
Selection and comparison
Types of bushings
Materials, constructions and shapes compared in one table.
View moreBushing vs bearing
When a plain bushing beats a rolling bearing, and when it does not.
View moreBrass vs bronze bushings
Two copper alloys with very different bearing behaviour.
View moreBushing selection guide
From load, speed, temperature and lubrication to a material.
View moreComposite vs bronze vs bimetal
The three workhorse constructions side by side.
View moreWrapped vs solid bronze bushings
Thin-wall formed strip against machined cast bronze.
View morePTFE vs POM composite bushings
Dry running against greased-for-life.
View moreDU vs DX bushings
The two classic metal-polymer constructions.
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Loads and design
Radial vs axial loads
What each load does to a bearing and which element carries it.
View moreJournal bearing vs thrust bearing
Sleeve for the radial load, washer for the axial.
View moreLow-friction bearing materials
Friction coefficients and what actually lowers them.
View moreBushing installation and press fit
Interference, bore closure and how to press without damage.
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Materials and maintenance
A question the notes do not answer?
Send the application and our engineers reply within 12 hours with a material proposal, and usually a page update.
Quote response: 12 h · Free samples · No MOQ