Plain Bearings
High-Performance Plain Bearings for Demanding Applications
IBSCO supplies plain bearings engineered for aerospace, industrial, and high-performance applications where simplicity, durability, and high load capacity are required. Unlike rolling element bearings, plain bearings support motion through sliding contact, making them ideal for applications that require oscillating, pivoting, or continuous rotation in rugged environments.
With partnerships across leading OEMs, we provide a broad range of sleeve, flanged, and spherical plain bearings. Combined with our certified cleanroom relubrication services, we deliver tailored solutions to meet both OEM production and MRO requirements.
Common Applications
- High load capacity with simple, robust designs
- Available in self-lubricating, metal-to-metal, or composite-lined options
- Resistant to shock, vibration, and harsh environmental conditions
- Excellent for oscillating and pivoting applications
- Maintenance-free PTFE-lined designs available
- Custom lubrication options for aerospace, vacuum, and cryogenic environments
- Extended service life in demanding operating conditions
OEM Partnerships
IBSCO partners with leading OEMs to supply plain bearings for aerospace, defense, and industrial systems. Our partnerships ensure full traceability and reliable performance.
Supplies spherical bearings, rod ends, and bushings for aerospace and industrial motion systems.
Produces spherical plain bearings, journal bearings, and rod ends for aerospace and rotorcraft systems.
Offers a broad line of plain and spherical bearings with Mil-Spec, FAA and OEM approvals.
Specializes in polymer-coated, composite, and bimetal plain bearing solutions.
Provides spherical plain bearings and bushings for and industrial applications.
Manufacturer of precision plain bearings tailored for aerospace and defense systems.
What Are Plain Bearings?
Plain bearings, which include spherical, rod end and bushings, use sliding contact surfaces rather than rolling elements to support motion and mis-alignment. They are ideal for oscillating, pivoting, or continuous rotation where robustness, load capacity, and simplicity are more critical than minimizing friction.
Construction & Bearing Types
Sleeve Bearings (Bushings)
Straight cylindrical designs for radial load applications.
Flanged Bearings (Flanged Bushings)
Provide axial location in addition to radial load support.
Spherical Plain Bearings
Swaged, load slot, split ball, and high-misalignment designs (up to ±15°); Bonded PTFE liners (maintenance-free), machinable liners, or metal-to-metal options.
Rod End Bearings
Spherical plain bearings integrated into threaded housings for linkage assemblies.
Composite & Polymer Bearings
Self-lubricating designs with excellent resistance to corrosion and wear.
Specifications & Standards
Applications
| Application Area | Examples | Bearing Types |
|---|---|---|
| Aerospace | Landing gear, flap linkages, actuators | Spherical plain, rod ends, journal bearings |
| Industrial | Hydraulic cylinders, construction machinery, heavy-duty equipment | Sleeve, flanged, spherical plain |
| High-Tech | Robotics, automation, semiconductor tools | Spherical plain, composite bearings |
| Defense | Vehicle suspensions, turret systems, weapon mounts | Metal-to-metal spherical bearings |
Plain Bearings – Spec Table
| Type | Key Features | Common Applications | OEM Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleeve Bearings | Straight cylindrical, | Industrial pumps, aerospace linkages | NHBB, RBC, GGB, Aurora (Timken), Specline (RBC) |
| Flanged Bearings | Radial + axial support | Hydraulic cylinders, gearboxes | RBC, GGB |
| Spherical Plain Bearings | Allow misalignment, PTFE-lined or metal-to-metal | Aircraft controls, suspensions | NHBB, RBC, GGB, Aurora (Timken), Specline (RBC) |
| Rod End Bearings | Threaded housing with spherical insert | Landing gear, actuators, robotics | Aurora, NHBB, RBC |
| Composite Bearings | Self-lubricating, corrosion-resistant | Medical devices, automation | GGB |
IBSCO Value-Added Services
- Class 6 certified cleanroom
- Precision relubrication with tolerance ±0.3 mg
- Vacuum impregnation for cage stabilization
- Assembly-ready delivery
- Custom component configuration
- MRO/OEM special packaging with MIL-SPEC labeling
- JIT fulfillment, LTAs, and multi-year stocking
- Cage code traceability with full certification
- Kit packaging & data packet inspection
Certifications & Compliance
Certified
Certified
Certified
Certified
Certified
FAQs
What are the advantages of plain bearings over rolling element bearings?
Plain bearings offer higher load capacity, simpler construction, and better resistance to shock and vibration. They are ideal for oscillating and pivoting applications.
Do you offer self-lubricating plain bearings?
Yes. IBSCO supplies self-lubricating PTFE-lined and composite plain bearings, which eliminate the need for maintenance in many applications.
Can IBSCO provide aerospace-qualified plain bearings?
Absolutely. We supply plain bearings qualified to SAE and OEM-specific standards with full traceability and certifications.
Which OEMs does IBSCO partner with for plain bearings?
We partner with Aurora, NHBB, RBC, GGB, Schaeffler, and Specline to provide a wide range of aerospace and industrial plain bearing solutions.
Do you supply rod end bearings as part of your plain bearing offering?
Yes. IBSCO supplies spherical rod end bearings for aerospace, defense, and industrial linkage systems.