DryLin R bearings guide four spray heads as they spray abrasive, sandlike media to the interiors of large exhaust pipes. Because of the bearings’ dirt channels, these bearings last longer in this applications. The bearings replaced PTFE-lined bearings, which were binding as the fine wet grit worked its way between the liner and the shaft. With the machine’s rigorous operating schedule, the DryLin R linear bearings are in constant operation 24 hours a day, five days a week. The DryLin R linear bearings fit this application because they handle aggressive environments thanks to their dirt channels: grooved inlays on the bearing’s liner that prevent buildup. The bearing uses the liner’s individual glide pads to wipe away any excess media and move it into the contact-free areas. The glide sections then slide freely on the shaft that has been cleared of all contaminants. They are also self-lubricating, which eliminates the need for oil or grease. The linear bearings also eliminated abrasion on the custom-designed machine. Metal-on-metal contact is no longer a concern like it was with the previous bearings, which had to be replaced every five weeks. The DryLin R bearings are serviced four times per year using a shot of pressurized air to keep them clean. If one of the bearings needs to be replaced, the process is fairly easy—the shafts do not need to be removed from the housing thanks to the split adapter. Instead, the two shells of the adapter separate so the split inner-liner can be easily pushed off of the shafting. Split adapters also help to keep installation times to a minimum. Custom high-performance metal finishing machine used during the postplating stage operates 24 hours a day, five days a week. The bearings ensure this high productivity rate. metalfinishing-machine. iguswww.igus.com ::Design World::