Self-lubricating bearings touch nearly every piece of equipment in the lumber industry; from the track road arms of timber harvesters (download PDF), to the kilns used to dry-finish boards used in housing construction and other applications.  Composite bearings offer durability and reliability, but more importantly for an industry dependent on fragile ecosystems, they protect the environment from the oil spillover that seeps into the ground when metal bearings are greased in the field.

I had a great conversation this week with an engineer seeking materials for a plane bearing application.  We spoke at length about the pros and cons of different materials including composites, bronze, acetals, and carbon alloy.  We also reviewed how PV is the most important factor in determining how well a material will perform as a plane bearing.   Pressure, velocity, heat and temperatures are also contributing factors. 

Ultracomp bearings have “hit the jackpot” with a recent application for the casino industry featuring a new water/pyrotechnics attraction on the famous Vegas Strip. Why did our partner choose self-lubricating Ultracomp bearings over metal bearings for this rigorous, high-pressure water application?