Our test laboratory for iglidur® plain bearings

With their tribological properties, our polymer plain bearings fulfil the highest requirements for a long service life without additional lubrication. To achieve this quality, we carry out over 135 trillion test movements per year in our plain bearing test laboratory spread over 250m². We test and develop materials and plain bearings under real conditions with the goal of providing you with the best solution made of polymer for your application. igus® bearings are optimised for use in motion and open up new possibilities in design with their specifications. Base polymers, solid lubricants and reinforcing materials are combined in such a way that the plain bearing specifications required for the application are completely achieved. Focus of the tests are push/pull forces, low coefficient of friction, wear, abrasion and driving forces at various speeds and bearing loads.

What is tested and how?

In the iglidur and igubaltest area, bearings and materials are tested for stress, wear and friction properties. Other parameters such as high and low temperatures, high loads, and speed are adjusted as the test requires. There are around 50 test systems in the test laboratory, where more than 300 tests are carried out at the same time. We also perform around 11,300 tribological tests on around 250 newlydeveloped plastic compounds every year. To ensure that the new formulations are effective in later use, they are exposed not only to external influences, but also to different movement directions and loads: rotating, pivoting, linear motion, and tumbling.

In addition, we test our components for effects in the event of dirt, different weather conditions and even with shock and impacts.

What are the test rigs in the plain bearing test laboratory?

Front loader test rig

Test: rotating wear rate
Load up to 500kg
Operating pressure: up to 200 bar
Vmax: 4 cycles/min at full pivot

Find out more about the front loader test rig

Rotation wear

Test: rotating wear rate
Load per bearing point between 100 N and 1000 N
Surface speed between 100 and 1300rpm
Available shaft diameters: 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20mm
Tests at room temperature and up to 150°C
Underwater tests

Linear short-stroke wear

Test of linear wear rate
Load per bearing point between 10 N and 200 N
Surface speed between 0.1m/s and 0.3m/s
Tests at room temperature and up to 150°C
Available shaft diameter 10mm
Stroke length: 5mm

Pivoting wear

Test of pivoting wear rate
Load per bearing point between 25N and 300N
Surface speed of 0.01m/s (with 10mm shaft diameter)
Pivoting angle of 60°
Available shaft diameter: 10mm
Tests at room temperature

Coefficient of friction

Test for rotating coefficient of friction
Load per bearing point between 10 N and 300 N
Surface speed between 200 and 2,000rpm (speed depends on the shaft diameter)
Available shaft diameters: 6 to 20mm
Tests at room temperature
Tests at room temperature and up to 150°C

Linear technology tests underwater

Test of pivoting wear rate
Load up to 100N
Surface speed of 0.01m/s
Tests at room temperature
Available shaft diameter 10mm

Rotation test rig under water

Test for rotating wear rate
Load between 10 N and 100 N
Surface speed between 0.01m/s and 0.3m/s
Test at room temperature
Available shaft diameter 10mm

Edge load test

Test for wear, tumbling
Load between 30 kN and 230 kN
Surface speed of 0.01m/s
Tests at room temperature
Available shaft diameter 40mm

Linear film test rig

Test for linear wear rate
Load between 10N and 60N
Surface speed between 0.01m/s and 0.15m/s
Test at room temperature
Pin diameter 4mm and 10mm

Heavy duty rotation

Test for rotating wear rate
Load between 4,000N and 52,000N
Surface speed up to 0.1m/s
Test at room temperature
Available shaft diameter 20mm

Tumble test rig

Test for wear rolling, tumbling
Tests with solid plastic roller, knife edge roller, bushed steel roller ...
Load between 10N and 600N
Surface speed between 0.15m/s and 1m/s
Test at room temperature
Shaft diameter from 6mm to 20mm

Which online tools obtain the test data

The further use of the results from the product and material tests is varied. The data is used for new and further development, and is also used to determine the appropriate components for the specific application. Anyone who is interested, can use the online tools of the numerous product areas free of charge. Each product area has its own tools, such as the expert system, which compares products according to requirements such as high compressive strength or radial forces and calculates their service life.

Test in the test lab and igus online tool

Selected tests from the igus test laboratory

We thoroughly test our plain bearings whether it is for service life or coefficient of friction. In addition to numerous product and material tests, we also examine individual customer applications. To give you an idea, we have compiled a selection of tests.

Manual fastening of plain bearing in test rig

We would love to test your application

You don't want to test and would like to subject your application to a material test before using it? Or do you have an unusual application and are looking for a suitable solution? No problem. We will test your application in our test laboratory and use our know-how to find the best igus® solution for you. Regardless of whether plain bearings, energy chains, cables, linear technology, bar stock, guide rollers or Low Cost Automation.

Enquire now!

The different areas of the igus test lab