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PBC Linear - Simplicity Plain Linear Bearings
Simplicity Linear Bearings, developed by PBC Linear in 1985, are designed for environments where conventional linear ball bearings often underperform. These self-lubricating bearings utilize a proprietary PTFE Frelon liner, which reduces the need for external lubrication, thereby minimizing maintenance demands. This makes them highly suited for challenging conditions, such as areas with dirt, vibration, and shock loading, as well as in cleanrooms, welding, foundry, and washdown applications. The bearings are available in several sizes, including inch, metric, and JIS options, and come in various styles like open, closed, and pillow block, along with choices of aluminum or stainless steel shells. They can handle significant static loads, with Frelon Gold liners supporting up to 100,500 lbs. The selection of liner materials, such as FrelonGOLD®, Frelon J, and Frelon W, caters to a variety of shafting materials and application needs.
It all started with a red linear bearing. In 1985 PBC Linear® created the Simplicity Linear Bearing, a self-lubricating linear bearing that thrives in environments where linear ball bearings typically fail. These applications typically include dirt, vibration, shock loading, cleanrooms, welding, foundry, and washdown situations. Simplicity Linear Bearings are self-lubricating and maintenance-free. Ideal for tough environments thanks to their proprietary PTFE Frelon liner, these oil-free linear bearings offer low wear and reduced friction.
Simplicity Linear Plain Bearings exhibit real benefits thanks to the self-lubricating quality of the proprietary PTFE Frelon liner. The Simplicity Linear Bearing also creates a wiping action on the shaft which enables smooth linear motion. These capabilities allow linear motion systems to avoid catastrophic failure and lengthen the life of a system.
Simplicity Linear Bearings come in various sizes (Inch Linear Bearings, Metric Linear Bearings, and JIS Linear Bearings) and styles (Open, Closed, Pillow Block, Flanged, Die-Set, Thin-Wall), with aluminum or stainless-steel shell options. Choose from three proprietary liner materials (FrelonGOLD®, Frelon J, Frelon W) based on the application and shafting material.
- Embeddability of hard particulate into the Frelon liner allows for use where debris is present
- Wide temperature range (-400°F to +400°F or -240°C to +204°C)
- Vibration damping - no metal-to-metal contact
- Will not rust or corrode due to anodized aluminum or 316 stainless steel shell
- Provides both linear, oscillating, rotary, or any combination of motions
- Smooth and quiet operation – plus long life
- Highly accurate – all critical surfaces are ground on precision bearing grinders
- Will not catastrophically fail or damage shaft thanks to no rolling elements
- Chemically inert
A self-lubricating linear bearing is characterized by its ability to transfer microscopic amounts of material to the mating surface. The interaction of the Frelon liner and the shafting creates a natural, microscopic transfer of the Frelon to the running surface. A thin film is deposited on the shaft and the valleys in the surface finish are filled in with Frelon material during the initial break-in period which creates the self-lubricating condition of Frelon riding on Frelon. This transfer process creates a film that provides lubrication and reduces friction over the length of the rail or shaft. No lubrication (typically oil or grease) is added to the linear bearing design nor will the lubrication breakdown and become ineffective over time creating an oil-free, maintenance-free linear motion system.
The proprietary, self-lubricating Frelon Liner comes in three different off-the-shelf material types:
- FrelonGOLD - High performance material compatible with RC60 hardened steel shafting, RC70 ceramic coated, and 440 stainless steel shafting.
- Frelon J - Formulated to provide the optimum performance with 300 series stainless steel and softer shafting such as bare aluminum.
- Frelon W - FDA compliant with food-grade liner and compatible with stainless steel and softer metal shafting.
In addition to selecting the outer shell and liner material of the plain linear bearing that is best suited for your application, PBC Linear offers additional features such as lubrication systems for increased speed in continuous motion applications. The added lubrication can reduce friction up to 50%. Our configurators provide an excellent option to design specific features for your bearing solution.
Lubrication systems include:
- Felt Wick - Retains oil lubricants (remove when using grease lubrication). Wicks are glued in place on open linear bearings while they sit in place on closed linear bearings.
- Zerk Fitting - Installed into pillow blocks, other housing, or directly into die sets PAC or PACM (Standard lube fitting with ¼-28 thread).