[TowerTalk] thrust bearing lubrication

[Charlie Gallo]

On 5/18/2010 Grant Saviers wrote:

...snip...

> I'm thinking that plastic sleeve bearings might be the answer for 
> handling the lateral mast force.  Teflon /Rulon/Torlon are obvious 
> choices if cost is no object.  UHMW (ultra high molecular weight) 
> polyethylene is a cheap very slippery plastic used for sliding bearings
> and low speed rotating bearings.  It's cheap but can't handle much UV,
> so will need covering up from sunlight.  ...snip...

Another problem with UMHW is that it cold flows, which is why I was saying a thrust bearing made if one of the glass reinforced self lubricating plastics (say a glass reinforced teflon - of course pure teflon cold flows too)

I wonder of a coating of say Molgice would be perfect.  As you said, something like Rulon 142 would probably be perfect (for that matter Torlon)

I can't see it being THAT expensive - the real cost on say Torlon would be in the making of the mold - run off a bunch or rings the right size so that you don't end up with 90% of the material on the floor


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