Corrosion-free linear bearings for washing machine in automobile production

Profile

• What was needed: drylin linear bearings; tribo-tape liner
• Requirements: Water and chemical cleaning agents attack all components, so it is very important that they are corrosion-resistant; no lubricants can be used as they can mix with the cleaning fluid
• Industry: Automotive industry
• Success for the customer: drylin bearings operate dry so they require no lubrication; they are insensitive to external influences such as moist environments. They reduce operating costs thanks to long service life and the elimination of component replacement

Problem

Special industrial washers are used in the automotive industry because particles in the engine components can damage parts during assembly. Specifically, coolant, oil, or dirt can adhere to them. In this application, the system for treating cylinder heads consisted of two sections, one for cleaning and the other for drying the component. For this purpose, linear bearing systems were to be used at various points.
But conventional linear bearings caused various problems. Hot water and chemical detergents are used in each wash cycle, therefore when the equipment stopped, the bearing housings corroded quickly. Stainless steel bearings are not common here because their cost is very high. The oil mixes with the machine's cleaning fluid so the lubricants in the bearings negatively impact the wash cycle.

Solution

Because the project managers already had good experiences with products from our bearing product range, they decided to use igus linear bearings for the washing system as well. After checking compatibility for their application, they decided to use drylin bearings. The self-aligning linear bearings operate dry as lubrication-free systems and are therefore maintenance-free and insensitive to external influences. This makes them particularly suitable for the moist environment of the car wash. Tribo-tape liners are also used to provide additional protection against splash water. The customer also saves lubricant costs with the drylin bearings. And the bearings no longer need replacing as frequently, further reducing the system's operating costs.