In the field of machinery, oil-free bearings and self-lubricating bearings are often mentioned, and there are some obvious differences between the two.

In principle, oil-free bearings utilize their porous material properties to store lubricating oil in the pores during operation, and rely on this stored oil to achieve lubrication and reduce friction during operation. Self lubricating bearings, on the other hand, use solid lubricants with lubricating properties added to the bearing material to reduce the friction coefficient during relative motion. In terms of usage environment, oil-free bearings have relatively high requirements for cleanliness, as impurities can easily block their pores, affecting oil storage and lubrication effects. Self lubricating bearings, relying on solid lubricants, have slightly lower sensitivity to environmental cleanliness and can also adapt to some harsh and dusty environments. From a cost perspective, oil-free bearings usually have relatively complex manufacturing processes, which may result in higher costs; Due to their diverse types, some self-lubricating bearings manufactured using conventional processes have a cost advantage.

In short, understanding their differences can help us make more suitable choices in different mechanical application scenarios based on actual needs.