This is why system suppliers and OEMs in the automotive industry trust the linear guides from igus in Cologne

Dirk Tietz | 11. March 2020

In addition to being lubrication-free and weighing less than metal bearings, igus polymers are low-noise and can be delivered quickly. This has been convincing more and more customers from the automotive industry for years. You will find here a brief summary of why this is so.

Reason 1: Weight advantages

With a weight reduced by a factor of 7 by using plastic instead of metal, Co₂ emissions can be reduced through lower fuel consumption and the range of electric vehicles can be extended. This pleases the designer as much as the end customer and the environment.

Reason 2: Quiet

Noises are perceived much earlier in vehicles with quiet electric drives and are perceived as more disturbing than in conventional combustion engines. Quiet operation and dampening specifications of the drylin linear guides manufactured by igus are therefore often a significant reason for their use.

Reason 3: Cost-effective

Linear guides with e.g. recirculating ball bearings consist of considerably more components than plain bearings. The manufacturing process in plastic injection moulding is also less energy-intensive and offers considerable cost advantages compared to metal processing. Lubrication with oil or grease is not necessary due to integrated solid lubricants, which are homogeneously integrated in the polymer. Re-lubrication at defined maintenance intervals is therefore not necessary.

Fewer components, a more cost-effective manufacturing process and less maintenance makes a linear guide with polymer plain bearings very inexpensive and up to 40% more cost-effective than comparable metal bearings.

Reason 4: Lubrication-free

Especially in automotive interiors, lubrication-free quality is often a decisive factor for the use of linear systems from igus. Dry operating drylin guides do not leak unwanted grease or oil. Solid lubricants integrated in the polymer matrix make additional lubrication of the linear bearings unnecessary. Resinification, volatilisation of grease or relubrication during maintenance are things of the past, as materials such as PTFE, graphite and others are homogeneously integrated in the bearing material and ensure very low friction coefficient or displacement forces. Penetrating dirt does not adhere to the bearing and does not cause increased wear.  

Reason 5: Many components from stock

Whether central armrests, sliding roofs, consoles, drawers, seat adjusters or other linear applications, at igus everyone finds their alternative to recirculating ball bearings and other linear bearings. igus also offers purchasers and designers a wide standard range of reliable guide rails, coupling joints, high helix threads and much more. Smaller quantities are shipped from stock within 24 – 48 hours. No minimum order surcharges for very small quantities.

Special geometries or very small batches are often produced using 3D printing. Special bearings made of tribologically optimised polymers can be delivered to the customer within 48 hours using this method.

Reason 6: Online configuration

You can easily configure, specifically for your application, the guide rail, lead screw or plain bearing online in just a few steps, calculate the service life and order. igus collects data for service life calculation by means of its in-house test laboratory, which is the world’s largest in the industry. In more than 15,000 tests per year, tribological data is determined in order to be able to calculate as exact a service life as possible. So, the most economical bearing material can be found that works in your application.    

Reason 7: Personal consultation

Configurators make product identification much easier. The personal conversation on the phone, via chat or at your place is nevertheless difficult to replace. Especially in the case of customer-specific components, a discussion helps to coordinate the design, tolerances and materials.

The igus expert Dirk Tietz will be happy to assist you with the implementation of your project.

Contact us

Reason 8: Ordering complicated special parts

In addition to the standard range or for short-term requests, 3D printing, injection moulding and other processes enable the designer to create an almost unlimited range of shapes and a great deal of design freedom.  In this way, the first prototypes can be produced very quickly in additive manufacturing, from bar stock or from cost-effective prototype tools. In volume production, sliding elements or bushings are manufactured primarily by injection moulding.

In summary, igus offers:

• Fast delivery times of up to 24 hours for catalogue items
• High flexibility thanks to various manufacturing processes, even for complex components
• No minimum order quantity
• Online configuration and/or assistance from a specialist
• Clear advantages in weight, noise and maintenance thanks to high-performance polymers
• Optimally matched glide surfaces
• Cost advantages compared to metal solutions such as recirculating ball bushings and so on