Why are plain bearings so popular?

Plain Bearings are among the most basic types of bearings. They have fewer parts, are low-noise, and feature a simple design. In fact, these bearings are the most common kind of bearings.

Low maintenance
Plain bearings are a low-maintenance option for many applications. They are made of composite materials composed of a base polymer, reinforcing materials, fibers, and fillers, and solid lubricants that reduce friction and wear. Some plain bearings are made from steel, and others are made of plastic. These materials are lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and insensitive to dirt.

Plain bearings are a good choice for vehicles, agricultural machinery, and other machines that must run continuously. In these applications, predictive maintenance is critical, as too late or too early replacement can lead to expensive downtime or collateral damage. While plain bearings can be low maintenance, shafts should be lubricated with grease from time to time, to ensure corrosion protection. In addition, maintenance intervals can be stretched out, allowing the machines to run longer between service visits. Agricultural applications, for example, would benefit from maintenance at the start or end of the season.

Low noise
Among the advantages of plain bearings is their low noise level. While no bearing is completely noiseless, a good design will make a bearing sound quiet as a mouse. This noise is reduced to a minimum until oil starts to flow. This can be beneficial for certain applications where noise is an issue.

In addition to being quiet, plain bearings are also easy to maintain. They are made of plastic, and the base polymer is a composite material containing reinforcing materials such as fibers and fillers. In addition, many plastic plain bearings have embedded solid lubricants to reduce friction and wear. In addition, these bearings are lightweight and corrosion resistant. They are also less sensitive to dirt.

Low cost
Plain bearings are low cost, low maintenance and have many operational advantages. They are also self-lubricating and can be used in wet environments. They are also light weight and can be installed in a variety of ways. Although they can't replace rolling element bearings in every application, plain bearings have many advantages.

Compared to metal bearings, plain bearings are made of plastic and therefore use less energy. Approximately fifteen liters of crude oil are used to make one liter of aluminium, while only 11 liters of oil are used for a single liter of plastic. The development of vegetable oil-based plastics can further reduce energy consumption.