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

Catalog items from stock. 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 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 Advantages Very low coefficient of friction possible High precision High rotational speeds possible (1,200 SFM) High PxV 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® Oilite Bronze Max PSI: up to 21,750 PSI 8,000 PSI Motion: Any (including dual) HS rotating Shafting: Any (soft/SS/HR/steel) Carbon steel, hard Grades available: Over 20 1 Dirty environments: Yes No Resists squeaking: Yes Only if it’s oiled Edge loading: Yes No Underwater: Yes No Suitable for clean rooms: Yes No Plastic Contact Yes No Service life predictors: Yes ? Technical data available: Yes ?

Edge pressure F metal bearings plastic 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 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 Benefits of iglide J 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 G300/D on outdoor, high-speed boat motor Iglide D enables tilt and trim of the motor in the steering mechanism and transform assembly Iglide G300 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 Used on: 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 Benefits of iglide J 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 DryLin 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 DryLin R linear bearings Features: Corrosion-resistant Dirt-resistant Vibration dampening Ideal alternative to re-circulating ball bearings

In the real world Benefits of DryLin R International Climbing Machines DryLin 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 DryLin R Durable Lightweight, which makes it much easier for the machine to easily adhere to surfaces

“The quality of the igus products has been exceptional.” The climbing machine is remotely operated by humans safe on the ground. DryLin 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 DryLin 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 DryLin linear guide systems Features: Corrosion-resistant Lightweight Lubrication-free Perfect for diverse, extreme environments

In the real word Benefits of DryLin W Schneider Packaging DryLin W on a bottle-packaging machine Acts as a vertical guide for a grabbing device Benefits of DryLin 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 DryLin 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 Benefits of Energy Chain 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!