Sleeve bearings are small, thin-walled plain bearings that create a low-friction running surface between a shaft and the surrounding housing or machine structure. Also called sleeve bushings, they help guide and support linear, rotary, or oscillating motion while reducing wear, noise, vibration, and the need for ongoing lubrication. Depending on the bearing type, this low-friction performance may come from a bonded liner on the inside diameter or from a self-lubricating material used throughout the bearing body.
A flange is a raised rim or shoulder at one end of a sleeve bearing. It can help locate the bearing in a housing, provide a built-in stop during installation, or offer light axial support where the application requires it. Unflanged sleeve bearings do not include this shoulder and instead use a straight cylindrical profile, making them useful where space is limited or where the bearing needs to sit flush within the assembly.
The Simplicity sleeve bearing family at PBC Linear includes PS inch and PSM metric unflanged bearings, as well as PSF inch and PSFM metric flanged bearings.
PS, PSF, PSM, and PSFM Series Plain Linear Sleeve Bearings deliver a durable, high-performance solution for linear and rotary motion applications where precision, reliability, and low maintenance are critical. Each bearing features a sturdy aluminum shell, with optional stainless steel available for added corrosion resistance or FDA-compliant applications. The bonded, self-lubricating Frelon® liner enables oil-free operation, helps extend service life, and provides vibration damping for smooth, quiet performance.
Standard FrelonGOLD® is used for general-purpose applications, while optional Frelon®J is available for corrosive chemical resistance and Frelon®W is available for FDA-compliant applications. These sleeve bearings operate across a wide temperature range of -240°C to 204°C (-400°F to 400°F), support static load capacities up to 166,000 lb (740 kN), and allow maximum speeds up to 8 m/s (315 in/s).
The product family is available in inch sizes from 3/16 in to 4 in, ISO metric sizes from 5 mm to 80 mm, and JIS sizes. Standard ID clearance is 0.0005 in per side, with compensated clearance of 0.0015 in per side available for applications requiring additional running clearance. Standard and self-aligning outside diameter options help prevent binding and support use with end-supported shafting.
Designed for size interchangeability with linear ball bearings and some bronze bushings, PBC Linear sleeve bearings are available with features such as O-ring grooves, retaining ring grooves, seal options, and optional external lubrication. Seal materials include nitrile rubber, urethane, and Viton® for bearing IDs of 1/2 in or 20 mm and larger. The PS and PSF series are available only in closed-shell configurations, providing a robust bearing platform for demanding linear and rotary motion environments.
Learn more about the benefits of the proprietary, self-lubricating Frelon® liner from PBC Linear
