lubrication-free polymer plain bearings with hoeing technology for weed control

• What was needed: iglidur® G plain bearing
• Requirements: The chopping elements are exposed to harsh environmental conditions such as dust, dirt and moisture. The bearings must therefore be extremely robust. In addition, samo was also looking for a material that is lubrication-free and cost-effective.
• Industry: Agriculture
• Success for the customer: iglidur® bearings are robust, wear-resistant, corrosion-free, lightweight and lubrication-free. They are also very insensitive to dust and dirt and simply absorb shocks and impacts. A total of 32 plain bearings are used in the application.

To combat weeds successfully, organic farmers in particular are currently relying on hoeing machines that get to the root of the weeds. The problem with conventional tools is that they have to be adjusted mechanically and in the trade show stand at up to 60 points using a spanner and folding rule. Processes that are very time-consuming. This is why samo Maschinenbau GmbH has developed the VarioChOP system, which enables variable and infinitely variable chopping.
The VarioCHOP consists of several chopping elements, the number of which can be determined by the customer. Parallel kinematics enable the individual elements to be easily adjusted. 
The chopping elements are exposed to harsh environmental conditions, such as dust, dirt and moisture. Accordingly, the bearing points must be extremely resistant and withstand impacts and knocks as well as the weather.  
In addition, samo was also looking for a material that is lubrication-free and cost-effective.

Today, iglidur® plain bearings ensure a secure bearing of the moving chopping elements. More precisely, a total of 18 iglidur ® plain bearings made of the tribo-polymer iglidur® G are used in the parallel kinematics of the chipper elements. As an all-rounder, iglidur® G is extremely wear-resistant, corrosion-free and lightweight. Furthermore, samo Maschinenbau can now completely dispense with additional lubricants. Due to the absence of greases and oils, no lubricants get into the soil. The plain bearings are very resistant to dust and dirt and are easy to clean. Shocks and impacts are absorbed by the bearings with iglidur® plain bearings. Another 14 plain bearings made of the same material ensure a maintenance-free bearing of the height guide. iglidur® G has a high permissible surface pressure and is also very attractively priced as a large bushing with a diameter of 35 millimetres. Thanks to a large number of tests in the in-house igus® laboratory, the material has also been tried and tested in heavy-duty applications for years.