Surface finishes – A critical part of plane bearing design
Posted by Dave Biering on Tue, Jan 03, 2012 @ 09:55 AM
I can’t stress enough the importance of selecting the right finish for your plastic components, especially if you are outside of the normal design criteria. A finish that is too rough can impact wear, while a very smooth surface can impact the ability to transfer lubricating medium. In both cases friction and wear life will be impacted.
Before selecting the finish, of course, you first need to consider the material type and part configuration. In some cases simply taking emery paper to polish the shafts or bores will reduce the finish so it is not so rough. Conversely, when you have a surface that is too smooth, 80-grit sandpaper can be a simple solution.
View our surface finish video to learn more about the “fingernail test” and other tips to help select the right surface finish. Or feel free to reach out to our in-house Experts.