Self-Lubricating Bushings

Simply put, sliding causes friction. Friction is caused by two surfaces resisting movement between them.

APQS carefully chose self-lubricating needle bar and hopping foot bushings for our quilting machines.

Manufactured from sintered bronze and impregnated with the highest quality oils available, this oil-impregnated bushing is most commonly found in tough applications where low levels of friction, permanent lubrication, and high positional accuracy are required.

Sintered bronze has provided many years of proven history exhibiting low wear and surprisingly high life times. Offering strength and flexibility, these technically advanced bushings are also known for their quiet and smooth running characteristics. This self-lubricating bushing distributes oil evenly across the bearing face due to the microscopic pores in the material.

The largest advantage of this sintered bronze bushing is that supplementary lubrication is not required. In addition, these self-lubricating bushings are capable of operating in a wide temperature band (+10F to +175 F, -10 to 79 C).

Design parameters for Self-lubricating Bushings

Load and speed limitations must be ascertained in order to insure proper bushing design.  If design limits are exceeded, the bushing life will decrease and could result in premature failure. Design criteria was established and analyzed. The PSI load, shaft velocity and diameter were calculated resulting in a bushing that was selected and manufactured according to APQS's very specific requirements.

Needlebar shaft and bushing finish are also very important to long bushing life. Upon arrival from our supplier our bushings are further precision bored and honed to our critical ID tolerance.  In addition, APQS needlebar shafts are precision machined and then microfinished to our very exacting specification of 8 RMS (root mean square).   This attention to detail; the precise marriage of shaft and bushing is yet another example of APQS's commitment to quality. Our commitment to building you a quilting machine that will provide you with a lifetime of enjoyment and pleasure.

Reason to use Self-lubricating bushings in long arm quilting machines:

• Strength
• Self lubricating (no supplementary lubrication required)
• Quiet and smooth running
• Ultra precise
• Low levels of friction
• High positional accuracy
• Low wear
• Operate in a wide temperature band
• Even oil distribution across bearing face
• Bored and honed to critical ID tolerances
• Needlebar shafts microfinished to 8RMS

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