xiros® Thrust Bearings: Zero Lubrication, Maintenance-Free Solutions

What is Thrust Bearing

The xiros® thrust bearings from igus® are designed to handle axial loads and are made from xirodur® high-performance polymers. These bearings are notable for being lightweight, maintenance-free, and requiring zero lubrication. Here are some key features:

Material: Made from xirodur® polymers, which significantly reduce weight compared to metal bearings.
Vibration Dampening: Up to 250 times better than metallic bearings, providing smooth operation and excellent wear rates.
Corrosion and Chemical Resistance: Suitable for various environments, including medical, cleanroom, and food contact applications.
Rolling Elements: Available with stainless steel or glass balls, making them non-magnetic and suitable for specific applications12.

These bearings are ideal for applications where maintenance-free and clean operation is crucial.

Thrust bearing with technical drawing | xiros

The xiros® thrust bearings from igus® offer several advantages over traditional metal thrust bearings:

Maintenance-Free: Unlike traditional bearings that require regular lubrication, xiros® thrust bearings are designed to be maintenance-free, saving time and reducing operational costs.
Zero Lubrication: These bearings operate without the need for lubrication, which eliminates the risk of contamination and makes them ideal for cleanroom, medical, and food industry applications.
Non-Magnetic Options: With the option to use glass balls instead of stainless steel, xiros® bearings can be non-magnetic, which is important for certain sensitive applications.

Thrust Ball Bearing

Everything about our thrust bearings at a glance:

Explore different types of thrust bearing

Single-row thrust bearings, single direction

Double-row thrust bearings

Thrust washer for supporting axial loads

Axial thrust washers

How are thrust bearings constructed and what are their advantages?

The thrust races of our thrust bearings are made of the high-performance plastic xirodur developed by igus. This makes the use of lubricating greases superfluous, which in turn saves maintenance costs. The balls can be made of stainless steel or glass. The xiros thrust bearings are therefore made of plastic:

✔️ Corrosion-free,
✔️ Non-magnetic (when using glass balls) and
✔️ Resistant to chemicals.

The stated dimensions of thrust bearings are in accordance with the DIN 711 standard. The range includes single-row and double-row thrust bearings. The double-row thrust bearings are particularly well suited if a higher load capacity is required.

When are thrust bearings used?

Thrust bearing are engineered for applications that demand high stiffness and are subject to low centrifugal forces and moderate speeds. Typically, they are not recommended for handling radial loads. However, when such loads are present, thrust bearings can be paired with radial bearings, which are adept at managing forces exerted perpendicularly to the shaft. Additionally radial bearing can accomodate radial forces even at elevated speed and offering versatile solution for complex load scenarios.

Thrust bearing table

Installation size

Inner Ø [mm]

Outer Ø [mm]

Width [mm]

51100

51104

51104 (double row)