High performance polymers now machinable

The 60 mm diameter solid rod is available in either “iglidur W300” or “iglidur J”: two high quality 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 automatically possess the material qualities unique to all igus polymers: self-lubrication, zero maintenance, dirt and dust resistance, low wear, low friction, and so on. The machined plastic part will also have a predictable life when used as a bearing; something igus is able to calculate for plain bearings made from all 30 of its iglidur materials using its extensive 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.”

Customers can now order any machined bearing of any dimension using the quick online ordering service on the company's website. There are also plans to make the stock bar available in other iglidur materials in the future.