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Design of bushing arrangements

The factors that are most important to consider when selecting the material and surface finish of
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the counter surface on which the bushing slides are the load conditions such as load, angle of
oscillation, type of movement, and environmental influences. 
 Bushings
Where there is a risk of corrosion, the counter face should be sufficiently resistant. Corrosion scars
in the counter surface and for example abrasive particulate contamination as a by-product of
corrosion increase the surface roughness accelerate wear. In this cases, the use of stainless steel or
 Product table: Bushings
a surface treatment such as hard chromium, nickel plating or electrolytic oxidation should be
considered. Designs and variants 
This page provides bushing type specific recommendations on the following design considerations,
Bushing data 
as far as applicable:

shaft and housing tolerances Design of bushing arrangements

shaft roughness and hardness
material and surface finish of counter surfaces Designation system 
design of associated components
sealing solutions

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The recommended tolerances require a proper mounting process and tools (refer to Mounting).

Solid bronze bushings 

Shaft tolerance e7Ⓔ to e8Ⓔ

Housing tolerance H7Ⓔ
Shaft roughness Ra ≤ 1,0 µm
Shaft hardness 165 to 400 HB

Sintered bronze bushings 

Shaft tolerance h8Ⓔ

Housing tolerance H7Ⓔ
Shaft roughness Ra: 0,2 to 0,8 µm
Shaft hardness 200 to 300 HB

Wrapped bronze bushings 

Shaft tolerance e7Ⓔ to f8Ⓔ

Housing tolerance H7Ⓔ
Shaft roughness Ra: 0,4 to 0,8 µm
Shaft hardness 150 to 400 HB

PTFE and POM composite bushings 

Shaft tolerance Metric PTFE composite bushings (table 1):

d ≤ 75 mm: f7Ⓔ
d > 75 mm: h8Ⓔ

Metric POM composite bushings: h8Ⓔ (table 2)

Inch PTFE composite bushings (table 3)

Inch POM composite bushings (table 4)

Housing tolerance1) Metric PTFE composite bushings (table 1):
D ≤ 4 mm: H6Ⓔ
D > 4 mm: H7Ⓔ

Metric POM composite bushings: H7Ⓔ (table 2)

Inch PTFE composite bushings (table 3)

Inch POM composite bushings (table 4)

Shaft roughness PTFE composite bushings: Ra ≤ 0,4 µm; Rz ≤ 3,0 µm

POM composite bushings: Ra ≤ 0,8 µm; Rz ≤ 6,0 µm

Shaft hardness PTFE composite bushings: 300 to 600 HB

POM composite bushings: 150 to 600 HB

1) The recommended tolerances and guideline limits quoted in the tables are valid for steel and
cast iron housings. Where light alloy housings are used, a greater degree of interference may be
required because of the different thermal expansion characteristics of the housing and the
bushing. There is otherwise a risk that the greater thermal expansion of the housing would no
longer provide radial location for the bushing and that the operating clearance would be too large.
If it is not possible to adopt a greater interference fit, it might be possible to use an adhesive to
retain the bushing. In special cases it may be necessary, by selecting a suitable tolerance for the
shaft, to prevent an inadmissible increase in operating clearance.

Material and surface finish of counter surfaces

PTFE composite and POM composite plain bearing arrangements, soft carbon steels with a ground
surface are usually adequate for the counter surface.
For more demanding applications, SKF recommends hardened counter surfaces. These should
have a surface hardness of at least 500 HB (50 HRC). Alternatively, hard chromium, nickel plating l
or some other form of surface treatment can be considered. In all cases Ra should not be greater BACK
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than 0,3 μm (Rz ≤  2 μm). The better the surface finish, the better the running and wear
properties.

Design of associated components

To prevent the sliding surface from becoming stepped, the counter surface should always be wider
than the actual bushing width – particularly where axial displacement of the shaft relative to the
housing may occur as a result of axial expansion.
To facilitate mounting, shaft ends and housing bores should have a lead-in chamfer with an angle
of 10 to 15° (fig. 1). These chamfers make it easier to press the bushings into the housing bore
and to insert the shaft into the bushing bore, without the risk of damaging the sliding surface.
The housing shoulders intended to locate the bushing axially should have a bore diameter that is
equal to or greater than d +  0,8 mm.

When PTFE composite bushings operate without a lubricant it is especially important to accurately
align all bearing positions. If misalignment between the positions cannot be avoided, take steps
during the design stage to prevent inadmissible high edge stresses from occurring. For example,
the housing bore seating can be relieved on both sides, or a wider bushing can be used so that it
extends beyond the housing bore seating on both sides (fig. 2).
In case of misalignment have to be compensated for and the operating conditions permit the use
of POM composite, then the bushings of this material should be chosen. The covering layer of this
material can be machined to a minimum degree after the bushing has been mounted in a housing
bore.
For shafts that need radial support and axial location, flanged bushings or a combination of a
bushing and a thrust washer (Design of thrust washer arrangements) can be applied (fig. 3)
depending on the magnitude of the axial load. Flanged bushings or thrust washers are
advantageous even if axial loads are light and a surface is not adequate to accommodate the
thrust, either because the material or its finish is unsuitable. Note that the counter surface should
completely cover the sliding surface of the flange of a flanged bushing. For bearing arrangements
where flanged bushings are used, the transition from housing bore to abutment should be
chamfered so that it does not contact the bushing where it meets the flange (fig. 4).

Sealing solutions
Seals can significantly influence the service life of composite bushings. When selecting seals,
consider especially the design and the available space. The justifiable expense should also be taken
into consideration since, for example, composite plain bushings can tolerate embedded
contaminant particles especially in their POM composite layer and are thus relatively insensitive to
contamination. They generally require no special protection against normal airborne dirt.
If, however, the bushing position is subjected to heavier contamination it should be sealed from the
outside and protected against the ingress of contaminants. Simple and efficient sealing can be
obtained if adjacent components can also serve as seals (fig. 5).
Radial shaft seals with a low cross sectional height, for example G design radial shaft seals as used
for needle roller bearings, can provide adequate protection for composite plain bearings in most
cases (fig. 6). If the demands placed on the sealing arrangement are high, it may be necessary to
resort to special seals of rubber, plastic or similar materials, for example SKF wiper seals (fig. 7).
In highly contaminated environments, particularly where sand or clay is present, rubber or plastic
seals tend to have a very short service life. Under these conditions, a good sealing solution can be
achieved by regular relubrication.

PTFE polyamide bushings 

Shaft tolerance h8Ⓔ to h9Ⓔ

Housing tolerance H7Ⓔ
Shaft roughness Ra ≤ 0,8µm
Shaft hardness 100 to 300 HB

Filament wound bushings 

Shaft tolerance h8Ⓔ

Housing tolerance H7Ⓔ
Shaft roughness Ra: 0,2 to 0,4 µm

Rz: 1,0 to 2,0 µm

Shaft hardness ≥ 490 HB (≥ 50 HRC)

Material and surface finish of counter surfaces

SKF generally recommends using hardened counter surfaces for filament wound bushings.
Profiles having sharp edges, for example high Rr values, result in heavy wear even if the Ra values
are within the recommended range. Although greater surface roughness might be acceptable for
oscillating movement, heavy wear occurs when the bushings rotate or perform linear movements.
To fully exploit the potential service life of the bushing it may be necessary to optimise the counter
surface. The best results have been obtained with polished, hard chromium plated as well as with
nitrided surfaces.
Whether an adequate service life can be obtained if the condition of the counter surface is outside
the recommendations has to be checked from case to case.
For additional information, contact the SKF application engineering service.

Sealing solutions
Filament wound bushings have only a limited capacity to accommodate solid particles embedded
into the filament wound material. Therefore, seals can significantly increase their service life when
the bushings are to be used in highly contaminated environments. Contaminants otherwise
damage the strands of the sliding surface layer and the continuing destruction of the structure of
the sliding layer would result in rapid increase in wear. SKF recommends using SKF wiper seals,
which allow the same sliding velocities as the filament wound bushings, to protect the sliding
surface against the ingress of abrasive contaminants (fig. 8). Radial shaft seals or Radial shaft seals l
with a low cross sectional height can also provide suitable sealing solutions. BACK
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