igus now offers its iglidur materials as a stock bar, which means users can benefit from using self-lubricating polymers in any machined component. It also means customers can now order a mechanically machined special-size bearing of any dimension from igus in low quantities.
The 60mm diameter solid rod is available in either “iglidur W300” or “iglidur J” - two bearing materials not accessible anywhere else on the market as semi-finished products. This is ideal if a customer wishes to machine their own bearings on the occasion a part size is not available from the igus standard range, or if they want to machine any other kind of mechanical component from these materials.
Anything machined from the stock bar will possess material qualities consistent with all igus polymers, such as self-lubrication, zero maintenance, dirt and dust resistance, low wear, and low friction. The machined plastic part will also have a predictable life when used as a bearing, which is something igus is able to calculate for plain bearings made from all 30 of its iglidur materials using its test database.
Matthew Aldridge, Bearings Product Director for igus UK, says “For years, customers have asked us for semi-finished products, but the market for these products is already well populated. Our niche is that we specialise in lifetime predictability for bearing applications: we have tested bearings machined from our iglidur materials and know how they perform differently compared with those we injection mould. Nobody else currently offers this".