igus has released smart bearings that detect wear, implementing predictive maintenance and condition monitoring to let you know when you're bearing will fail.
Intelligent 2 and 4-hole fixed flange bearings with wireless sensors to detect wear enable condition monitoring and prevent machine breakdowns.
Made from self-lubricating, high-performance plastic, the bearings have an integrated abrasion sensor, thin circuit board, and cableless battery supply. Any wear on the bearing will interrupt the board's conductor paths, causing the electronics to lose the signal. The sensor then transmits a long-range network signal to an igus i.Cee switch cabinet module for analysis, including the percentage of abrasion.
Over time, the sensor wears away layer by layer—parallel to the bearing's running surface—and will continue to transmit signals on the bearing's condition. Users can see the remaining service life and maintenance requirements through a web-based dashboard, which they can access from a PC, tablet or smartphone.
The 2 and 4-hole fixed flanged bearings from the igubal series now also enable condition monitoring and predictive maintenance to prevent unforeseen damage.
