Test reports of the dryspin® technology

High efficiency, low wear: steep threads with dryspin® technology

Screw drives are machine elements that convert a rotary motion into a translational motion (motion thread). Steep thread and trapezoidal thread spindles from igus® are available in three different spindle materials (steel, stainless steel and aluminium) and in combination with more than seven different thread nut materials. The friction-optimised iglidur® materials enable lubrication- and maintenance-free use and are quick and easy to configure and order online. The dryspin® technology developed by igus® achieves a higher service life due to the asymmetry of the threads and increased efficiency due to the flat flank angle. The geometry of the lead screw nut matching the threaded rod is variable even in the standard version. Geometries ranging from a cylindrical design with flange or spanner flats to backlash-reducing lead screw nuts, such as the zero-backlash, low-clearance or anti-backlash lead screw nut, are possible.

Wear is an important aspect for components in moving applications. Wear-resistant plastic such as our iglidur® materials are the solution to minimise wear and increase the service life of the components. Thanks to the tribological specification, the iglidur® materials are perfectly suited for all areas of application in which a good coefficient of friction and the lowest possible wear are important. The industry's largest test laboratory extends over 3,800 m², where igus® carries out research, development and extensive test series. All materials are tested for their tribological specifications using various test series so that wear and maintenance intervals can be minimised. They are particularly low-friction and low-wear and ensure lubrication-free and low-maintenance use. iglidur® plastic offer very good tribological specifications and therefore guarantee a longer service life for plastic components.

How many tests are conducted in the test laboratory?

An impressive number of tests and material tests are carried out in a year on the numerous test systems:

Over 15,000 tests, including around 4,000 at e-chain® & chainflex® and around 11,000 at dry-tech®
we test rotating, swivelling, linear, walking, heated, underwater and much more
450 plain bearing test centres
10 billion e-chain® cycles
3,500 tested cables
400 customised tests

What are tribo-polymers?

"Tribology is the science of friction and wear. Tribologically optimised polymers are those that exhibit minimal friction behaviour and low wear rates. Base polymers, solid lubricants and reinforcements are combined in our dry-tech products in such a way that the bearings, unlike those made of metal, do not require additional lubrication, all desired characteristics are met and only the slightest friction, heat generation and abrasion occur."Dr.-Ing. Ralf Selzer, Head of Research and Development Plain Bearings

We will test your application, too!

Do you want to avoid experimenting and subject your application to a material test before use? Or do you have an unusual application for which a suitable solution needs to be found? No problem. We will test your application in our test laboratory and use our expertise to find the best igus® solution for you.

Wear test of the new dimension Ds10x3: dryspin® technology beats competitors and trapezoidal thread

Test parameters

load: 50 N
stroke: 140 mm
speed: 450 rpm
Test duration: 150,000 cycles

Y = wear rate [μm/km]

1. competition geometry 10x3 / POM
2. TR10x3 / AISI 304 iglidur® J / injection moulding
3. DS10x3 / AISI 304 iglidur® J / injection moulding

Test result

The test evaluation of the wear test of the 10x3 stainless steel dimension has shown that our dryspin® thread Ds10x3 can achieve up to 25% less wear rate, up to 25% longer service life and higher straightness of action compared to the competition and the trapezoidal thread Tr10x3.

Test result (PDF)

Wear test of the dryspin® technology: Ds10x25 impresses in both the wear and efficiency test

At the customer's request, motion plastic specialist igus® compared its dryspin® spindle Ds10x25 with two competitor products with identical pitch thread dimensions. The products intended for railway technology were tested in both a wear test and an efficiency test with up to 630,000 cycles.

Test parameters

stroke: 140 mm
Rotational speed: 100 rpm
Axial load: 200 N
Running time: 630,000 cycles

Y = wear rate [μm/km]

1. competition geometry 1 / POM + PTFE
2. competition geometry 2 / POM + PTFE
3. dryspin® Ds10x25 / iglidur® J / injection moulding

Test result

Even after 630,000 cycles, the dryspin® lead screw nut was able to prove itself against competitor geometries with significantly lower wear and efficiency.

Test result (PDF)