igubal® special parts: tailor-made spherical bearing solutions
Peter Hughes | 2. October 2020
The igubal® online shop offers a very large selection of spherical bearings and coupling joints for a variety of applications. However, many customers require customised, tailor-made igubal solutions which cannot be found in the online shop and catalogue. We would be happy to assist you in finding your tailor-made solution.
It often starts with a sketch
In many cases a modified series part is required: for example, a spherical bearing with a slightly adapted shape or size. Sometimes it later becomes a serial part: our demountable angle joint had its origin as an individual customer solution until we realised that the ease of assembly is also an advantage in other areas of application and industries. We also receive enquiries from customers who initially only send us a rough sketch with their requirements for the special part. In a discussion with the design/development department we work out a concept and then, thanks to our 3D printing process, we can provide a prototype in a short time.
For example, a company in the materials handling industry has requested a rod end bearing with an angled mounting bracket. A 3D printed prototype was created from the sketch. We have combined this with an igubal standard spherical dome. On the testing machine it far exceeded the required load of 1,000N. The result: an annual order of more than 5,000 parts.
In order to be able to produce small volumes quickly and economically, we also offer 3D printed injection moulding tools. This process also enables cost-efficient prototypes, in which the sample parts represent the later volume parts almost 1:1 through the original manufacturing process and the use of the series material.
Basically, we always try to use a standard housing and only adapt the spherical ball/ball stud to the customer’s requirements. Or standard spherical balls are used for a customised housing, which is the much more frequent case.
This enables us to offer a clear price advantage for our customers.
Give it a try and send us a sketch/drawing of your dream spherical bearing. We would be happy to talk to you about your igubal special part!