Products lined with NHBB’s Oscimax® brand of machineable self-lubricating liner technology.
Products lined with NHBB’s Oscimax® brand of machineable self-lubricating liner technology.

Dick Ray is NHBB’s director of applications engineering and new product development. He oversees the activities of the New Product Development Center (NPDC), the division responsible for developing Oscimax®. Below, Dick answers some commonly asked questions about NHBB’s latest innovation:

What is Oscimax®?

Oscimax® is a uniquely advanced self-lubricating liner technology that consists of a proprietary matrix of thermosetting polymeric resins, PTFE, and various other scientifically developed compounds. We apply the technology as a homogeneous layer, which is machineable from the surface to the substrate. .p>

Where is Oscimax® utilized, and can it be used as a fretting barrier?

The patented technology is utilized primarily as a self-lubricating liner in a wide range of bearings and related mechanical assemblies found in airframe and engine subsystems, including engine controls, thrust reversers, wing surface controls, VGV systems, and flight control systems. Due to its superior wear resistance and adaptability, Oscimax® is an excellent fretting barrier in many of these same applications.

On what surfaces can Oscimax® be applied, and is the liner fully machinable?

We can apply Oscimax® to virtually any surface, including I.D.’s, O.D.’s, flanges, chamfers, and flat surfaces. Once applied, it produces a consistent, secure bond to most metallic substrates while promoting higher dynamic loads and significantly reduced wear rates. Oscimax® is fully machinable using conventional manufacturing techniques, enabling customers to achieve exact tolerances, better fits, and superior performance of the bearing assembly.

What is the rated life of Oscimax®, and how does it compare to other machinable liner solutions?

It is challenging to delineate the operating life expectancy of bearings and related mechanical assemblies containing Oscimax® without first evaluating the specific performance requirements of an actual application. In general, test results repeatedly demonstrate that Oscimax® represents a breakthrough in wear-resistance and operating life for aircraft bearings and assemblies. Testing by an independent lab has confirmed that Oscimax® exceeds all performance requirements of AS81934 beyond 100,000 cycles, and tests conducted by the NPDC have resulted in liner wear-rates under .004 inches at approximately one million cycles.*

How does Oscimax® react when exposed to contaminants?

Oscimax® is an excellent choice for harsh environments containing moisture and corrosive oils and chemicals. Unlike fabric-based liners, Oscimax® is not susceptible to moisture gain, offers superior corrosion resistance for liner substrates, and performs more consistently through temperature changes.

Does NHBB plan to introduce different versions of Oscimax®, including an injection-molded liner for spherical bearings?

Yes. The development of Oscimax® is ongoing and will eventually include alternative formulations that offer specific performance characteristics, such as low friction or high temperature. As for spherical bearings lined with Oscimax®, our goal is to develop and introduce an injection-molded self-lubricating liner (IML) solution by mid-2013.

How do customers specify Oscimax® on their next project?

Solutions will evolve from customer concepts in which requirements and specifications are defined and developed collaboratively through the design development process. The technology is available as an add-on to NHBB’s current line of bearings and custom assemblies, as well as to customer-supplied machined parts. Customers interested in specifying Oscimax® in their next project should contact the Astro Division’s product engineering group.

*The version of Oscimax® qualified to AS81934 is identified with the extension "X.T."