Linear Bearing and Linear Guide Design
There are two main issues to be aware of when choosing a bearing for washdown environments. The first concern lies with the two-piece, open-ended bearings that contain grooves or inserts. They should be avoided in washdown environments because microscopic bacteria have a tendency to hide in the crevices, grooves, and plastic bearing inserts, therefore increasing the chances of contamination and disease. The second concern can be seen in recirculating ball bearing type products that require grease lubrication for metal-to-metal contact. In this scenario, the lubrication picks up material from food items being processed, eventually becoming trapped inside multiple crevices and also cavities around the balls and raceways of the bearing. The result is a potential breeding ground for unwanted bacteria.
The solution, or recommendation for these types of washdown applications is to implement one-piece, bonded bearings for the simple fact that there are no grooves, crevices, or spaces between the liner and bearing shell. In essence, residues will not gain a foothold on our linear plain bearings and will therefore inhibit any bacteria growth. In addition, our plain bearings are also PTFE based with bonded linear material, making them self-lubricating and requiring no external lubrication that would potentially collect contaminated materials or bacteria.
When it comes to multiple component sub-assemblies, there is a danger of bacteria build-up around the connectors and joints. Design engineers can eliminate potential areas of contamination collection by using newer technology that incorporates dual rail load capacities and functionality into one single rail design.
