{"id":710,"date":"2014-10-30T05:59:34","date_gmt":"2014-10-30T10:59:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.misumiusa.com\/?p=710"},"modified":"2014-10-29T20:15:00","modified_gmt":"2014-10-30T01:15:00","slug":"choosing-the-best-linear-bushing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/choosing-the-best-linear-bushing\/","title":{"rendered":"Choosing the Best Linear Bushing"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In our previous series, we talked about <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.misumiusa.com\/working-with-linear-bushings\/\" target=\"_blank\">Working with Linear Bushings<\/a> <\/strong>and different kinds of Sliding Guides in <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.misumiusa.com\/sliding-guides-part-1\/\" target=\"_blank\">Part 1<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.misumiusa.com\/sliding-guides-part-2-linear-bushings-vs-linear-guides\/\" target=\"_blank\">Part 2<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 In this two-part series, we are first going to take a closer look at the two main types of bushings.\u00a0 In the second article, we will discuss different drive mechanisms, and which bearings are better suited to each one.<\/p>\n<p>There are three basic shapes that are available for linear ball bushings, with the main difference between them being how they are mounted: <strong>Straight<\/strong>, <strong>Flanged<\/strong> <strong>&amp; Pillow-Block<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/vona2\/result\/?Keyword=straight+bushings\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Straight Bushings<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 This style of bushing does not have any mounting holes or plates on it.\u00a0 It is simply a cylindrical ball bushing.\u00a0 Examples of how a straight bushing can be mounted are shown below.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.misumiusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Bushings1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-712\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.misumiusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Bushings1.png\" alt=\"Straight Bushings, Mounting Method, Fixing PLates\" width=\"867\" height=\"635\" srcset=\"https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Bushings1.png 867w, https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Bushings1-300x219.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 867px) 100vw, 867px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Straight bushings are usually mounted using either of the following (but not limited to):<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.misumiusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Bushings2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-713\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.misumiusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Bushings2.png\" alt=\"Straight bushings \" width=\"565\" height=\"193\" srcset=\"https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Bushings2.png 565w, https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Bushings2-300x102.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 565px) 100vw, 565px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Benefits of Straight Bushings include:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>More freedom when designing the mounting method, as a flat surface is not required to mount a housing to<\/li>\n<li>Cost \u2013 this style of bushing is the cheapest (thus making it the cheapest to replace)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/vona2\/result\/?Keyword=flanged+bushings\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Flanged<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>Bushings<\/strong><\/a>\u2013 This style of bushing has a flange on the outer race of a straight bushing.\u00a0 This is significant as it results in a more compact bushing than fitting a straight bushing into a flanged housing.\u00a0 See image below.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.misumiusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Bushings5.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-715\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.misumiusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Bushings5.png\" alt=\"Flanged bushings \" width=\"883\" height=\"478\" srcset=\"https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Bushings5.png 883w, https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Bushings5-300x162.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 883px) 100vw, 883px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Benefits of Flanged Bushings\u00a0include:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Reduced manufacturing cost (no need to manufacture a housing to insert a bushing into)<\/li>\n<li>More compact size as compared to a straight bushing in a flanged housing<\/li>\n<li>Allows bushing to be easily mounted perpendicular to plate<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/vona2\/result\/?Keyword=pillow-block+bushings\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Pillow-Block<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>Bushings<\/strong><\/a>\u2013 This style of bushing has a straight linear bushing inserted into a pillow-block style housing.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Benefits of Pillow-Block Bushings include:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Reduced manufacturing cost (no need to manufacture a housing to insert a bushing into)<\/li>\n<li>Straight bushing can be removed from housing and replaced<\/li>\n<li>Allows bushing to be easily mounted parallel to plate<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Another important factor in choosing a bushing is the length.\u00a0 The longer the bushing, the more applied load and moment load it can handle (and the more expensive it is).\u00a0 This is largely due to the increased number of ball bearings that are in contact with the shaft.\u00a0 Bushings lengths include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Single<\/li>\n<li>Double (twice the length of a single)<\/li>\n<li>Extended (longer than twice the length of a single)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Single length bushings have almost no moment load capacity.\u00a0 As such, they are generally used in sets (for example, at the corners of the carriage of a linear motion unit).\u00a0 Double and extended length bushings have a larger moment load capacity.\u00a0 As such, they can be used alone.<\/p>\n<p>The length of the bushings also affects clearance errors.\u00a0 Specifically, given the same clearance between the shaft and the bushing, the longer bushing will have a smaller amount of angular misalignment possible then the shorter bushing.\u00a0 This concept is described in the illustration below:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.misumiusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Bushings3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-714\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.misumiusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Bushings3.png\" alt=\"Single linear bushing, double linear bushing\" width=\"967\" height=\"486\" srcset=\"https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Bushings3.png 967w, https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Bushings3-300x150.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 967px) 100vw, 967px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Additionally, increasing the length of the bushing reduces the effect of swells and roughness present in the shaft, as shown below:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.misumiusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Busings4.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-716\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.misumiusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Busings4.png\" alt=\"rail swells, rail surface roughness, double linear bushing\" width=\"935\" height=\"328\" srcset=\"https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Busings4.png 935w, https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Busings4-300x105.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 935px) 100vw, 935px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Think of a boat traveling through fifteen-foot ocean waves.\u00a0 A thirty foot fishing vessel would follow every slope and change, while a three hundred foot ocean liner would barely feel the changing seas.<\/p>\n<p>Another factor that contributes to the load capacity of the bushing is the orientation of the bushing on the shaft.\u00a0 This is due to the fact that linear bushings have rows of ball bearings in them.\u00a0 The orientations that allow for the least and most load capacity are shown below:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.misumiusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Screen-Shot-2014-10-29-at-1.52.37-PM.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-729\" src=\"http:\/\/blog.misumiusa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Screen-Shot-2014-10-29-at-1.52.37-PM.png\" alt=\"Load Capacity of Linear Bushings\" width=\"830\" height=\"490\" srcset=\"https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Screen-Shot-2014-10-29-at-1.52.37-PM.png 830w, https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Screen-Shot-2014-10-29-at-1.52.37-PM-300x177.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 830px) 100vw, 830px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>To summarize, when selecting the best linear bushing for the job, first decide the most suitable mounting style for your application (straight, flanged, or pillow-block).\u00a0 Next, use load rating and accuracy requirements to determine the length of the bushings that will be used.\u00a0 Finally, ensure the proper orientation of the bushing when installing.\u00a0 One last thing to that was not mentioned in this article that is very important for the lifespan bushing is to ensure that they are properly lubricated.<\/p>\n<p>Stay tuned for the next article in the series, which will dive into different drive mechanisms and choosing the best bearing for each one.\u00a0 As always, if you have any questions, feel free to comment below or email our experts at <a href=\"mailto:engineering@misumiusa.com\">engineering@misumiusa.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In our previous series, we talked about Working with Linear Bushings and different kinds of Sliding Guides in Part 1 and Part 2.\u00a0 In this two-part series, we are first going to take a closer look at the two main types of bushings.\u00a0 In the second article, we will discuss different drive mechanisms, and which bearings are better suited to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":46,"featured_media":735,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"gutentor_comment":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/710"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/46"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=710"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/710\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":737,"href":"https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/710\/revisions\/737"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/735"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=710"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=710"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/us.misumi-ec.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=710"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}