How to find the right Sleeve Bearings AI guide
Written by an AI model from its trained knowledge.
What the AI looks for in Sleeve Bearings
- Inner diameter, outer diameter and length
- Match all three in the same unit system. Length is often about one to one-and-a-half times the shaft diameter for a stable bearing. Too short a sleeve raises the load per unit area and lets the shaft rock in the bore.
- Press-fit closure
- Use the maker's housing bore tolerance. Pressed-in sintered bushings close in slightly and are sized to reach the correct inner diameter after installation. Too tight a housing pinches the shaft, and too loose a housing lets the bushing spin.
- Material vs operating conditions
- Oil-impregnated bronze suits continuous rotation at moderate speed. Polymer suits dry, wet or dirty environments and light loads. Cast bronze suits heavy, slow loads with added lubrication. Every material has a PV and temperature ceiling on its datasheet.
- Shaft condition
- Use a smooth, hard shaft, especially with polymer and PTFE-lined sleeves. A rough or soft shaft wears through the bearing surface quickly.
Brands that matter
- Bunting Bearings: Extensive inch range of plain sintered and cast bronze sleeves.
- Oilite: Classic oil-impregnated bronze sleeve bearings.
- igus: iglidur plastic sleeves in many grades for specific conditions.
- GGB: Wrapped metal-polymer sleeves for dry, low-friction duty.
What to avoid
- Packing grease into oil-impregnated bronze instead of re-oiling with a compatible oil
- Reaming sintered bronze after installation unless the maker allows it, because it closes the oil pores
- Generic plastic bushings with no stated material grade
Questions
Do oil-impregnated bushings ever need oil?
They run without added oil in light or intermittent duty. Continuous, hot or heavy service benefits from periodic re-oiling with an oil of similar viscosity to the original.