Put on your thinking caps Which bearing

Put on your thinking caps! • Which bearing would you use on your FIRST robot? : plastic, metal or bronze • Why did you choose that particular bearing? • Which type of bearing would you choose to use on a lawn mower or farming equipment? • Which type of bearing would you choose to use on an outboard, high-speed boat motor? Remember your answers … you might be surprised!

Working Together: FIRST® Robotics and igus® Inc.

Overview • Who is igus? • What is the Y. E. S. Program? • Put your thinking cap back on! – Plastic vs. the other guys – Our products – Real-world application examples – Benefits of plastic components

Who is igus Inc. ? • Forty years of experience in industrial machinery components for the motion control industry • Large R&D effort to test wear behavior of plastics • Current product focus: cable carrier, flexible cables, plain bearings, spherical bearings, linear bearings and slides Catalog items from stock.

What is the Y. E. S. Program? • Y. E. S. stands for the Young Engineers Support Program • Designed to foster the mechanical design ideas and inventions of students who have a passion for engineering • FREE product donations provided to all teams participating in FIRST Robotics

Remember your answers? • Which bearing would you use on your FIRST robot? : plastic, metal or bronze • Why did you choose that particular bearing? • Which type of bearing would you choose to use on a lawn mower or farming equipment? • Which type of bearing would you choose to use on an outboard, high-speed boat motor?

Tidbits about bronze bearings • Disadvantages • Advantages – Very sensitive to dirt – Sensitive to edge pressure – High temps breaks down oil – Low chemical resistance – Not suitable for linear movements – Sensitive to impacts and oscillations – Very low coefficient of friction possible – High precision – High rotational speeds possible (1, 200 SFM) – High Px. V value possible (50, 000 PV)

Tidbits about plastic bearings • Advantages – Lightweight – No lubrication needed – Maintenance-free – Dry-running – Vibration-dampening – Dirt- and dust-resistant – Corrision-resistant • Disadvantages – Sensitive to extreme temperature – Sensitive to extremely high loads – Sensitive to extremely high, constant speeds

Plastic vs. Bronze Iglide® • • • Max PSI: Motion: Shafting: Grades available: Dirty environments: Resists squeaking: Edge loading: Underwater: Suitable for clean rooms: Plastic Contact Service life predictors: Technical data available: Oilite Bronze up to 21, 750 PSI Any (including dual) Any (soft/SS/HR/steel) Over 20 Yes Yes 8, 000 PSI HS rotating Carbon steel, hard 1 No Only if it’s oiled No No ? ?

F Edge pressure metal bearings The bearing material has a low flexibility: the contact surface between shaft and bearing is only a point. • High specific pressure (load per mm²) • High wear of the bearing • Shaft could be consumed plastic bearings The bearing material has a high flexibility: the contact surface between shaft and bearing is a bigger surface • Lower specific pressure (load per mm²) • Lower wear of the bearing • Shaft will be not consumed!

A closer look at iglide plastic bearings • Features: – – Long-lasting Self-lubricating Maintenance-free Dust- and dirt-resistant • More than 7, 000 metric and inch bearing sizes and styles from stock

In the real world • Iglide J on lawn mower deck – Enables pivoting and linear movement in caster wheel – Plastic bearings outperformed bronze in every test • Benefits of iglide J – – – Withstands high edge pressure Withstands high impact/shock loads Compensates for edge loads Great wear resistance with high loads No grease, no maintenance Corrosion-resistant

In the real world Mercury Marine • Iglide G 300/D on outdoor, high-speed boat motor – Iglide D enables tilt and trim of the motor in the steering mechanism and transform assembly – Iglide G 300 is used in oscillating pivot joints • Benefits of iglide J – Eliminates the need for grease, which contaminates water and potentially harms wildlife – Eliminates maintenance – Low water absorption – Low coefficient of friction – Corrosion-free – In depth test data and predictability methods

In the FIRST arena Carmel High School, Team 868 • Products used – Iglide bearings – Igubal® spherical bearings • Used on: – Shooting system – Roller system • Benefits: – Lightweight – Reduced weight of the robot by 20 pounds! Iglide (inside wheel mechanism)

A closer look at igubal spherical bearings • Features – Self-aligning – Oil-free • Includes spherical, clip, pillow block and rod end bearings

In the real world Big Cat Human Powered Vehicles • Igubal spherical bearings on a recumbent tricycle – Enables lighter, cleaner and more reliable steering for the rider • Benefits of iglide J – Self-aligning, which diverts the need for exact placement of shafts/housing – Lubrication-free – Corrosion- and wear-resistant – 80% lighter than steel – Excellent vibration-dampening igubal rod end

“The igubal bearings do a better job of absorbing vibration from wheel to arms. We also can use a really large rod end without increasing the weight too much. This in turn enables us to use a stiffer rod which produces better wheel alignment. ” ~Paulo Camasmie, president of Big Cat Human Powered Vehicles

In the FIRST arena Upper Darby High School, Team #357 • Products used – 34 igubal spherical bearings – 253 iglide Z bearings – Dry. Lin S aluminum shafting • Used on: – Shooting system – Roller system • Benefits: – Lightweight – Self-aligning – Maintenance-free, which saved the team a lot of time!

igubal

A closer look at Dry. Lin R linear bearings • Features: – Corrosion-resistant – Dirt-resistant – Vibration dampening • Ideal alternative to recirculating ball bearings

In the real world International Climbing Machines • Dry. Lin R on a climbing machine – Aids machine in scaling walls to eliminate hazardous chemicals from various locations such as bridges, ships and towers • Benefits of Dry. Lin R – Durable – Lightweight, which makes it much easier for the machine to easily adhere to surfaces

The climbing machine is remotely operated by humans safe on the ground. Dry. Lin R “The quality of the igus products has been exceptional. ” ~Sam Maggio, ICM president

In the FIRST arena Parkview/North Little Rock High School • Products used – Dry. Lin R – Energy Chain • Used on: – Scissor-lift module – Body of robot to protect wiring • Benefits: – Increased the efficiency of the module by 50% – Lightweight

A closer look at Dry. Lin linear guide systems • Features: – Corrosion-resistant – Lightweight – Lubrication-free • Perfect for diverse, extreme environments

In the real word Schneider Packaging • Dry. Lin W on a bottle-packaging machine – Acts as a vertical guide for a grabbing device • Benefits of Dry. Lin W – Able to maintain 24 -hour/four cases per minute operation schedule – Lightweight – Maintenance-free – Corrosion-resistant

In the FIRST arena Gross Pointe North Public Schools, Team #1189 • Products used – Dry. Lin N • Used on: – Slide/plunger system, which enabled the robot to shoot game balls into goals • Benefits: – Lightweight – Maintenance-free – Easy to install

A closer look at Energy Chain • All-plastic cable carriers • Guides, protects and extends the service life of cables and hoses on automated machinery • Used in industries such as: – – Robotics Aerospace Automotive Machine tools

In the real world Case IH • Energy Chain on a seed planter – Guides and protects hydraulic hoses – Eliminates debris build-up – Aids in the retraction process of the planter • Benefits of Energy Chain – Lightweight – Reliable – projected to last for the life of machine, which is 10 years – Corrosion-resistant

In the FIRST arena Poudre High School, Team #159 • Products used – Energy Chain • Used to: – House and protect cables and wires on robot • Benefits: – Lightweight – Strong enough to endure all bumps, scrapes and shoving that the robot endured Energy Chain

Good luck to all FIRST teams! Visit http: //www. igus. com/yesprogram to request additional igus products!