2 min read
Surface finish is one of the most critical variables in bearing design. It has a direct and measurable impact on friction, wear rate, noise, and overall bearing service life. At TriStar Plastics, surface finish is evaluated alongside material...
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4 min read
At TriStar, engineering support is not something customers need to request separately. From early application reviews to long-term troubleshooting,...
2 min read
In complex mechanical systems, bearings are often treated as routine parts: small, commoditized, and easy to replace. But in many cases, they “bear”...
3 min read
When it comes to high-performance bearing materials, there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution. From wear and friction to chemical...
3 min read
A designer of offshore marine products recently asked us: “What are the advantages of plastic waterproof bearings?” The short answer: plastic...
3 min read
TriStar’s Enhanced Materials Division (EMD) offers advanced technologies like plasma surface treatment and specialized polymer filtration membranes....
1 min read
When should you choose bearings vs. bushings? Its a question we hear often, and one that’s frequently complicated by inconsistent terminology. At...
2 min read
When discussing advanced polymers and composite bearing materials you’ll often hear terms like hydrophilic, hydrophobic, oleophilic, oleophobic, and...
3 min read
The market for bearings and similar components like bushing and shock absorbers is highly-fragmented and multi-faceted. On one end of the spectrum...
2 min read
Which liner material is best for my application? This is a question that we often hear from our manufacturing partners. To determine the most...
3 min read
Bearings and similar components play a critical role in overall equipment performance, reliability, and service life. Yet in many designs, material...
3 min read
We often discuss the importance of bearing service life, but what does “service life” actually mean, and how can engineers influence it during...
2 min read
Dust and debris pose a serious challenge to bearing performance, but impact some bearing types more than others. Environments such as food processing...
