The pandemic will not disrupt igus's communication with its customers.
On November 6th , we held our first online seminar on seating, inviting 26 clients, including OEMs and seating manufacturers. Although only 46 representatives from 14 client companies actually participated in the online meeting due to network and firewall restrictions, the response still exceeded our expectations.
A mere 30 minutes is clearly insufficient for a more in-depth and comprehensive discussion of seating. We hope that starting with this wonderful premiere, we can organize more special topics and dedicated exchange sessions for everyone. Now, let's share the engineering plastics properties and applications we've mastered with those who need them.
Application of sports plastics in seating systems
In automotive seat systems, "sports plastics" mainly refers to the bushings at the hinges.
Traditional metal bushings have a layered structure, which can lead to problems such as the self-lubricating coating being knocked off during installation, resulting in increased noise, loss of damping, and loose or even wobbling of the frame. In contrast, plastic bushings are injection molded from a uniform, one-piece material, with self-lubricating particles embedded between the material molecules, which can maintain long-term and reliable lubrication between moving parts.
Beyond structural differences, plastic offers numerous advantages over traditional metals. One DU bearing weighs the equivalent of seven Iglidur bearings, making plastic significantly lighter. Plastic bushings are manufactured using injection molding, allowing for more flexible and diverse structural designs compared to rolled metal bushings. Therefore, we can mold them with integrated flanges or even add other functions. Compared to metal bushings, injection -molded plastic bushings greatly simplify the installation process during seat assembly and save on tooling equipment investment. Furthermore, as the coating on metal surfaces peels off, the noise and impact from metal-to-metal friction become more pronounced, while the elasticity of plastic bushings absorbs vibrations, effectively reducing noise.
Lastly, and this is a point of general concern for engineers, can plastic bushings pass the electrophoretic drying process? Seat frames typically use electrophoresis to prevent metal components from rusting. Iglidur bushings have not only been proven through numerous case studies to pass this process, but they can also compensate for gaps and reduce the dependence of adjustment feel on bore precision. The video below illustrates the changes of a clip-on bushing during the electrophoretic drying process: the precision of sheet metal punching is often at the H10~H11 level, and the ambient temperature is maintained at 160℃~200℃ for 20~30 minutes . This temperature and duration soften the interference-fit plastic material , allowing it to flow to gaps under certain compressive force. After calibrating tolerances and cooling, it adheres to the punched surface, compensating for insufficient punching precision and ensuring damping feel during shaft rotation. Furthermore, for metal cuts with burrs and notches, the plastic bushing also provides self-protection in this way, extending its service life.
▲ The hinge assembly using plastic bushings undergoes an electrophoretic drying process; see the video above for details.
In addition to the bushings at the hinges of the frame that we are familiar with, the advantages of sports plastics will also extend to motor core components, slide rails, turntable bearings, lead screw nuts, cable chains, and so on.
The entire chair slewing ring bearing
Car owners are increasingly demanding higher levels of comfort and intelligent features from their car seats, with a growing need for multi-directional adjustments. In the luxury car seat modification industry, 360° swivel seats are not uncommon: PRT slewing ring bearings are installed in the seat chassis , with sliding elements made of Iglidur J low-friction coefficient material. This results in low driving torque, quiet operation, minimal bearing space requirements, and a wide range of readily available sizes.
Linear guide slider
Headrests, armrests, and leg rests with linear sliding functions typically require self-locking or damping effects. Drylin N preloaded and self-locking guide rails provide a perfect solution. The sliding elements are made of self-lubricating plastic, eliminating the need for lubricants and keeping the vehicle interior clean and tidy. Compared to ball linear bearings, they are noiseless and offer excellent value. For information on existing standard parts dimensions and selection, please click the image below:
electronic actuator
The transition from manual to electric seats is a relatively recent technological upgrade. In a typical seat system, every adjustment is driven by electronic actuators. As intelligent automotive products become more prevalent, these actuators will be used more and more extensively. Iglidur plastic, especially materials that can withstand high temperatures, requires no lubricant, avoiding the problem of grease failure in core components. Furthermore, compared to copper bearings or powder metallurgy bearings, it offers better wear resistance and a higher cost-performance ratio.
In electronic actuator components, transmission gears, lead screws, and matching nuts often attract great interest from customers. igus can provide high-efficiency dryspin lead screws with patented designs . Customers can use online lead screw configurators and online gear configurators to design and generate drawings automatically, and even use online 3D printing services to quickly obtain sample quotes and place orders.
Cable protection
Electric vehicle seat adjustment and multimedia device power supply systems typically include cable chains and cables. To enable free movement in confined spaces, igus offers a compact cable chain system with a small bending radius. igus cable chains also feature higher torsional resistance and ease of installation. Furthermore, we can customize and develop complete power supply system assemblies for our clients.
Products and Services
Self-lubricating plastics are used throughout the moving components. If you are interested in any of the applications or products using them, please contact us.
Requests for free test samples of standard parts can be responded to within 24 hours, and customized development services are also available. If needed, we can also arrange for a local product expert to visit your site and provide solutions.
