Tribological Design of Sliding Microbearing

Abstract

A friction torque measuring device for microbearings was developed. Journals with 280μm in diameter, and sliding bearings with 300μm bore in diameter were used for the measurements. Three kinds of bearing materials and two kinds of lubricants were prepared to examine these effects. In cases of bearings with mineral oil (ST5) and without lubricants, fluctuation of friction torque occurred because of contact between the journal and the bearing. The experimental results show that lubricant with low viscosity such as OMCTS is useful to reduce friction and wear of microbearing.