Sleeve Bearings

Sleeve bearings, also called journal or plain bearings, are used to constrain, guide or reduce friction in rotary or linear applications. These bearings don't roll like balls or rollers but slide. They require proper lubrication to reduce friction and consequently wear. Sleeve bearings are most commonly used in computing peripherals.

The material for the sleeve bearings can be bronze, beryllium copper or other similar hard metals that are pressed into porous forms by powder metallurgy. They are in the form of thick cylinders saturated with oil. They are low friction bearings used for heavy load applications.

Sleeve bearings operates on the principle that the rod fitting within the shaft rests upon a very thin layer of lubricant. The rod must not make any contact with the sleeve and operate silently. Lubrication in this type is essential or else the sleeve will wear away in no time. The plain bearings may fail due to wear, evaporation of the lubricant or the absence or thickening of the lubricant.

Bearing Types :
Needle Bearings | Cylindrical Bearings | Sleeve Bearings | Spherical Bearings | Ball Bearings | Linear Bearings | Roller Bearings | Radial Bearings | Y-Bearings, Track Bearings | Thrust Bearings