Small Plastic Spherical Bearings for Compact Designs

Space-saving, lightweight and maintenance-free spherical bearings

A selection of small igubal plastic spherical bearings

Where Are Small Spherical Bearings Used?

Compact spherical bearings are ideal for applications that require pivoting, tilting or rotational movement in limited installation spaces. They can also help transmit linear motion, compensate for misalignment and reduce edge loads caused by shaft deflection or mounting tolerances.

For many applications, the load capacity of a traditional metal spherical bearing is unnecessary. Self-lubricating plastic spherical bearings offer a lightweight, maintenance-free alternative, particularly where regular greasing would be difficult or costly. Their corrosion resistance also makes them well suited for applications exposed to moisture, washdown conditions or outdoor environments.

Comparison of the weight of plastic versus metal

Lightweight Bearings for Moving Applications

In moving systems, drive requirements are influenced by more than just the payload. Bearings, joints and connecting components also contribute to the moving mass and must be accelerated and decelerated during every cycle.

igubal® spherical bearings are made from high-performance polymers and, depending on the design, can be up to 70% lighter than comparable steel components. Reducing component weight can lower the forces required for acceleration and help improve system efficiency in applications with frequent motion, short acceleration distances or limited drive power.

This makes lightweight igubal® bearings particularly well suited for robotics, grippers, dynamic mechanisms, aircraft and other weight-sensitive applications.

Self-Lubricating and Maintenance-Free Bearings

igubal® spherical bearings incorporate solid lubricants directly into the polymer material, providing self-lubricating operation without external grease. No relubrication is required, and grease cannot leak or contaminate the surrounding environment.

This can significantly reduce maintenance requirements in applications where routine servicing is difficult, expensive or undesirable.

Corrosion and Chemical Resistance

Unlike many metallic components, polymer bearing materials do not rust. Depending on the selected material, igubal® bearings can also provide resistance to a wide range of chemicals without requiring additional coatings or surface treatments.

This makes corrosion-resistant spherical bearings a strong option for equipment exposed to moisture, outdoor conditions or chemical cleaning processes.

Quiet Operation and Vibration Damping

The tribologically optimized polymer materials used in igubal® bearings provide different friction and damping characteristics than metal bearing combinations. This can help reduce operating noise and absorb vibration during movement.

These properties are particularly useful in robotics, equipment enclosures and other applications where vibration or mechanical noise can be transferred directly through the surrounding structure.

The AIDIN robotic hand uses igubal® KBRM rod ends in the finger and thumb mechanisms to support smooth, precise movement.

Humanoid Robot Hand

Plastic rod ends support precise finger movement in an anthropomorphic robotic hand

The AIDIN robotic hand from AIDIN ROBOTICS demonstrates the importance of combining mechanical design, sensors and software to create precise, controlled movement. While the sensors and software control the hand, its mechanical components physically translate those commands into motion.

During development, the metal rod ends originally used in the finger and thumb mechanisms were replaced with igubal® KBRM-02 polymer rod ends. The goal was to reduce component weight while maintaining smooth, reliable movement.

The plastic rod end solution has since proven successful in series production, providing:

Maintenance-free, self-lubricating operation
Low weight for fast, dynamic movements
Quiet, smooth operation for precise finger motion

Cartesian Manipulator

Pillow block and flange mounted bearings support precise drone manipulator movement

This drone was developed for inspection and maintenance applications where reliable, controlled movement of the manipulator arm is critical. Along with the linear guides and spring-assisted arm, the bearing components play an important mechanical role by guiding moving parts and supporting controlled force transmission as the manipulator interacts with its surroundings.

An igubal® EFOM-06 flange mounted bearing is used in the spring lever mechanism of the flexible joint, while two igubal® ESTM-06-SL pillow block bearings support the sliding gripper.

The polymer bearings provide several advantages for this application:

Smooth, maintenance-free movement of the joints and gripper
Lightweight construction for airborne applications
Corrosion resistance for outdoor operating conditions

Further examples of applications for compact plastic spherical bearings

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MARVIN Mk3 Helicopter Drone

igubal® KBRM rod end bearings transmit control forces to the rotor blades of the MARVIN Mk3 helicopter drone while providing lightweight, maintenance-free operation.