Low-cost, 1:1 replacements for recirculating ball bearings

A: drylin® linear bearings can offer significant cost savings to recirculating ball bearings. igus® plain linear bearings are dry running, light weight, corrosion-resistant, quiet, and maintenance-free.

A: igus® offers a 1:1 exchange in our drylin® R shaft guides, and drylin® T and W series profile guides. We recommend using our online tools or contacting igus® for technical assistance when considering a change. Please find more information in this white paper.

drylin® linear bearings do great in water. We offer aluminum and stainless-steel bearing blocks with our iglide® J and A160 materials as great options to be exposed to water. Dry-running bearings utilize sliding technology which means that there is no risk of grease or lubrication being washed away or modified when exposed to water.  We also offer several grades of 300-series stainless steel guide rails and housings, offering high corrosion-resistance.

A: drylin® utilizes tribologically optimized polymer bearings materials designed to run dry.  The materials are engineered with solid lubricants which embed into the micro-finish of the shaft or guide rail. This allows for clean performance and a consistent coefficient of friction for the product’s lifetime. External grease or lubrication is not required.

A: igus® linear bearings are very cost effective compared to recirculating ball bearings. We offer price transparency and volume pricing directly on our website. Customers often see savings of up to 40% or more by switching to drylin®. Plus, lightweight aluminum shafts and rails are lighter and therefore less costly to ship, as well as more affordable and easier to machine than heavy case-hardened steel or stainless. Additionally, the costs associated with downtime and maintenance are eliminated, adding additional savings.

A: Unlike ball bearings, drylin® operates without external oils or greases. In typical ball bearing applications these wet lubricants attract dust or dirt into the ball bearings systems — potentially leading to failure. drylin® bearings effectively act as self-cleaning systems due to their dry-running operation.

A: drylin® linear bearings operate using sliding polymer bearings, avoiding the metal-on-metal contact ball bearings require. This makes drylin® linear bearings up to 4x quieter than ball bearings, making them well suited for applications in which the end user requires a quieter experience.

A: Through the use of polymer bearings and aluminum guide rails, drylin linear systems can be up to 40% lighter than ball bearing systems which require heavy hardened steel or stainless rails/shafts. Ultra lightweight carbon fiber and plastic rails/shafts are also available and can allow for an up to 75% reduction in weight.

A: Yes. Ball bearings are designed with an integrated oil reservoir. For each full revolution of the balls in the cage, they pass through this oil reservoir. If strokes are shorter than this cycle, then some of the balls do not get re-lubricated. drylin® is dry-running and is not subject to this in short stroke applications.