Replacing rolling element bearings with plain bearings

[spirit8]

Hello,

Does anyone have any experience of replacing rolling element bearings with plain slideway bearings? The reason this is being investigated it to save weight.

 

[drawoh]

spirit8,

You are providing us practically no information. What is the application? What is the speed, the load and the the required lifespan? Are they esposed to shock, vibration, dirt and/or chemicals? What accuracy do you need? If you reduce the weight of the bearings, are you sure the final, complete system will be lighter? What colour should they be?

JHG

 

[Cheddarcaveman]

There are usually good reasons why a manufacturer uses anti-friction instead of sleeve bearings, so why you would want to reverse this decision, I can't understand. Do you really expect to "save" weight by doing this? Anti- friction bearings are basically self contained units whereas sleeve bearings need some sort of lubricating system which would probably bring their weight well over that of the anti friction!
As Drowah says, what is this application that has to have a weight reduction to make it......do what? Can't you take the weight from somewhere else?