What Is an Oilless Plate?
Among the bearing plates used in machine tools, an oilless plate is one that operates without the need for lubrication.
These plates exhibit excellent wear resistance in areas where it is relatively difficult to maintain an oil film due to reciprocating motion, machine vibrations, and frequent start-ups and shutdowns.
Oilless plates come in various types. Some have solid lubricant embedded in round hollows, while others incorporate solid lubricants into the plate material itself. Additionally, there are types that employ materials with low coefficients of friction for the bearing plates, rendering them completely oilless.
Applications of Oilless Plates
Oilless plates are frequently employed in bearing applications where lubrication is mechanically challenging or where the use of oil is prohibited for hygiene reasons, such as in food and beverage machinery.
Oilless plates can also be used in conjunction with lubricating oil to further reduce the coefficient of friction and enhance the performance of machine tools.
Moreover, compared to traditional plates, the use of lubrication, including the cost of oil and various machine design expenses for lubricated components, can be minimized, making oilless plates an attractive option for this purpose.
Principles of Oilless Plates
The principle of oilless plates depends on the plate material and can be broadly categorized into three methods.
The most common method involves using a plate with solid lubricant, such as graphite, embedded in round indentations. This type of plate operates without the need for additional lubrication equipment for the machine, as long as the manufacturer’s recommended lubricant is used.
Another method blends the metal material of the plate with substances exhibiting low coefficients of friction, such as molybdenum disulfide, or involves the blending of lubricants. Combining these materials allows for the creation of a bearing plate with a low coefficient of friction, eliminating the need for lubrication. This category also includes plates with a thin lubricant layer on the surface or plates coated with resin-based materials with low coefficients of friction.
Finally, engineering plastics with low coefficients of friction can be used as alternatives to metal for oilless plates. Materials like polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyacetal resin fall into this category.
In rare cases, specialized manufacturers may be contracted to provide processing services to meet the demand for oilless plates for standard bearing applications.