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Tag: bronze bearings

Tag Archive: bronze bearings

  1. Bronze vs. Plastic Bushings: What’s the Difference?

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    Bearings and bushings come in a range of sizes and can be made out of metal, plastic composites, or a combination of the two. This variety means you can find exactly what you need for a specific project; however, with so many choices, how do you decide the best option for you? Plastic and metal both have unique characteristics and advantages, and your choice will depend on the project, your budget, and more.

    Plastic Bushings

    Affordable and versatile, plastic bushings are used for many different industries, such as agricultural, medical, and machines, including fitness equipment, lawn mowers, food processing machinery, pumps, and valves. Because production of these bushings is fast and cost-effective, choosing plastic over metal could save you money depending on the type of plastic you choose.

    Plastic Bushings

    Engineered plastic bushings have a predictable wear rate, meaning you can accurately calculate the service life for an application based on a tribological test database. You can accurately determine their service life span and replace them before they malfunction, knowing you used them exactly as long as you could. That means less guesswork, fewer errors, and more time and money saved.

    Plastic bushings are corrosion and chemical resistant as well as self-lubricating—no grease required! If you think plastic is unable to stand up to heat, you might be surprised to learn these bushings can withstand temperatures up to 900°F for short periods. Over longer periods, they can perform in temperatures up to 482°F.

    Bronze Bushings

    With all the benefits of plastic, where does that leave metal? Bronze remains a popular choice for bushings because it’s available in so many alloys and compositions, expanding its reach into even more applications. A bronze bushing is harder and less likely to break or deform than those made of other materials.

    Bronze Bushings

    Like plastic, bronze bushings are long-lasting and corrosion resistant. As noted above, their strength allows them to hold up under impact. One potential disadvantage is that metal requires a lubricant to reduce friction and prolong the bearing’s service life. Oil or grease must be applied at installation and during operation.

    Still, the benefits may outweigh that small inconvenience. Bronze bushings are common in low-speed, high-load as well as high speed, low load industrial applications, including:

    • Iron and steel manufacturing
    • Food processing
    • Valves
    • Automobiles

    Let’s take a closer look at two common bronze bushing materials:

    • SAE841 Sintered Bronze:These oil-impregnated bronze bushings can be used with both high and low speeds, as well as high and low temperatures, depending upon the type of oil. SAE841 is also used for applications requiring food-grade quality.
    • Cast Bronze:The extra corrosion resistance with these alloys (typically bronze with tin, aluminum, or silicon) makes it especially useful in wet environments.

    Bunting Bushing Solutions

    Whether you need bronze or plastic bushings, Bunting Bearings can fill your needs. We have engineered parts available in nylon, PTFE, various bronze alloys and more:

    • Vespel®: This brings the best of plastic, metal, and ceramic together for a bearing that can manage high speeds, heavy loads, and high temperatures.
    • Nylatron: Cost-effective and self-lubricating, this is a nylon modified with molybdenum disulfide lubricant powder.
    • PTFE: Four different PTFE material bushings are held in stock including a non-toxic FDA compliant range.
    • BU: This unique composite features a steel backing and a bronze layer impregnated with PTFE for a strong mechanical bond.
    • Cast Bronze: A full range of leaded tin bronze bearings are in stock plus a full range of sleeve and flanged bushing made from ECO BRONZE which in independent tests proved to be superior to other cast lead-free materials.

    If you’re not sure which bearings are right for you, contact us. We’ll answer your questions about the advantages of each option and help you figure out which one will work best for your application.

  2. All About Bronze Flanged Bearings

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    Flanges feature a projecting rim over the edge of another part, a collar to secure connecting pieces together, or a ring to provide pressure to holds components in place. They enable part fabricators to customize the function of end products for customers.

    Ultimately, flanges provide strength and stiffness at more vulnerable areas of a part and facilitate the connection of diverse components. They are also useful in mounting and positioning static items. When paired with bearings on the external housing of a device, flanges increase the ability of the end product to effectively handle radial and thrust loads.

    Flanges are one of the most popular types of bearings requested by our clients at Bunting Bearings. This introduction to bronze flanged bearings will help readers understand what they are and what they can do for industrial manufacturing and assembly projects.

    The Benefits of Bronze

    Bronze alloys predominantly consist of copper and tin. Additional metals are added to the mix – i.e. aluminum, manganese, nickel, or zinc – to achieve the desired metallurgy. This results in a bronze material with ideal physical properties to suit the needs of the end application. For example, bronze can be tailored to have a specific physical appearance and offer better protection for end components against corrosion and surrounding conditions like moisture.

    Bronze bearings and bushings are made to be rigid and tough. In comparison to those made of brass, bronze parts last longer and hold their shape better under repeated use. Bronze greatly improves resistance to:

    • Impact
    • Shock
    • Corrosion
    • Mechanical wear-and-tear

    This means that bronze bearings last longer than their softer and more malleable brass counterparts. Bronze also causes less friction when brought in contact with other metal parts, which helps to extend the life of the bearing.

    Applications and Advantages of Bronze Flanged Bearings

    The versatility of bronze flanged bearings makes them an ideal fit for a number of industrial applications. Bronze flanged bearings are known for their low-maintenance durability. Heavy-duty industrial operations that rely on low-speed, high-load processes are particularly good candidates for bronze flange bearings, which hold up well under immense and repeated pressure.

    Bronze flanged bearings are often found in equipment used in:

    • Iron and steel manufacturing
    • Food processing
    • Injection molding
    • Automotive equipment
    • Earth movers
    • Industrial pumps

    The additional metal alloys that make up the bronze impart beneficial characteristics to the resulting material. Some of the common alloys used for bronze flanges include:

    • Oil is infused into the alloy via powder metallurgy. Depending on its composition, SAE841 can accommodate for a wide range of speeds and temperature ranges. It is often used in food-grade applications.
    • Aluminum, tin, and silicone. Marine manufacturers value the high corrosion-resistance of copper, but must alloy the copper with other materials to improve its strength. Copper alloyed with aluminum, tin, or silicone creates a bronze that enables manufacturers to create water-tight vessels without excessive weight.

    Speak to your bearing provider for personalized bronze flanged bearing guidance based on your specifications.

    Bronze Flange Bearings at Bunting Bearings

    Bunting Bearings stocks a comprehensive line of cast bronze bearings, flange bearings, and much more. All of our parts are produced with P/M bronze for superior performance and durability. We are proud to serve our clients with high-quality stock parts.

    Our Bronze Flanged Bearings SAE 841 conform to ASTM chemical and physical standards. They are the first of their kind to include all ASTM standard sizes, recommended dimensions, and tolerances. Operations and processes with large variations in temperature benefit from our oil-based bronze bearings. With the ability to function in temperatures that range from 10° F to 220°F, these parts are a convenient and cost-effective way to meet your application and equipment needs.

    For more information on bronze flanged bearing products and services from Bunting Bearings, please contact us today.

  3. Bunting’s Innovative BB16 Bearings

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    When most people think of a powder metal bearing they think of Bronze normally made to the SAE841, MPIF CT-1000-K26 or similar specification, but they don’t think of powder metal for heavy loaded bearing applications. Many years ago Bunting pioneered BB16 as a heat treated iron copper material to handle these applications. It was branded as “The world’s best kept secret” but this is no longer true for some heavy industry users.

    Typical uses of Bunting’s BB16 material are for off road equipment, earth moving equipment, escalators and the US Military. BB16 is heat treated to a Rockwell Hardness B scale (HRB) of 70 to increase its resistance to deformity under heavy loads. Similar to our standard Bronze bearing line, BB16 bearings are vacuum impregnated with Oil. However BB16 bearings contain extreme pressure oil which remains in the pores of the bearing to provide lubrication from the bearing to the shaft during operation. However, BB16 possesses a maximum load value of 8,000 psi (pounds per square inch), a maximum velocity value of 35 sfpm (surface feet per minute), and a maximum load-at-velocity (PV) value of 75,000. BB16 bearings can operate at temperatures ranging from -10 degrees F to 220 F (-12 degrees C to 104 C). If your application requires a self-lubricating bearing that can withstand high loads, then Buntings BB16 may be able to solve your problem.

  4. Our Powdered Metal Bearings Are Right for You

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    Typically, the powdered metal process is used for high volume production of bronze bearings. However, we have found that many of our clients prefer powdered metal bearings, but do not necessarily need large volumes of product. That is where we step in.

    We offer the advantages of powdered metal bearings for less traditional purposes. For example, if you need to produce prototypes and require an initial low volume of parts before full production, we can manufacture a powdered metal bearing for you, saving you money.

    Here at Bunting Bearings, we offer clients a wide range of powdered metal self-lubricating solid and cored bars. Additionally, we stock over 200 different bars in bronze and iron copper, which can be customized to specific requirements. Whether your bearing needs to withstand 700 degrees F or requires strength of 22,000 psi, we will find the right powdered metal bearing to fit your needs. Specifically, we stock the standard SAE841, that has a working temperature range of 10 degrees F to 200 degrees F, and conforms to CT-1000-K26, the Dri Plane, which uses a proprietary compound for dry lubrication and high temperature applications, a military specification grade bronze, which conforms to CTG-1001-K23, and iron copper bars, which conform to SAE863 specifications.

    Powdered Metal Bearings

    The vast selection of bearings and products that we offer are available right now, in multiple sizes, and for a variety of uses. Our knowledgeable and experienced team is here to help answer any questions or concerns that you may have for your particular applications. Remember, we are one of the largest producers of bronze bearings in the U.S. and offer the highest quality products available.

  5. Breaking Down Bronze Bearings

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    Are you in the food or food processing industry? If so, you must know the importance of using parts and products that meet the stringent standards of the industry, as the cleanliness, durability, and integrity of the products are necessary and important. What about those in the oil and gas industries—high lubrication parts are integral for making machines and products run smoothly. When it comes to bronze bearings, high quality and high strength are important characteristics.

    This is where Bunting Bearings can step in. Not many people realize the wide range and scope of our powdered metal and high strength bronze bearings. We realize that the end application determines what bearing is needed for a specific project, and the bearing’s particular characteristics definitely help dictate the required bearing.

    Bronze bearings

    What are some of the bronze bearings we can offer our clients? First, the SAE841 bronze bearing, which is an industry standard. For those in the food industry, we have the Eco 481 bearing, which meets the USDA standards. Our SAE 841 extra lubricant with PTFE sleeve bearing features a PTFE additive in the oil. When it comes to stop/start applications, it allows for smoother running and an easier brake-in period. Does your application involve high temperatures? Then try the Dri-Plane® bearings, which have a dry lubricant, making them suitable for temperatures up to 700⁰ F or 371⁰ C. Not only that, but our bronze bearings are produced to the exacting requirements of ASTM standard B438-13 as well. For applications that need high load-bearing materials, good wear characteristics, and compressive strength, the PVC bearings are a good option.

    Bronze bearings

    These bearings are available, right now, in a number of styles and sizes, and they are only a sampling of the bearings we offer. We are here to help our customers connect with the bronze bearings needed for their specific applications. What type of bronze bearing can we help you with?

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