Oilless Wear Plate Selection Guide
Oilless Wear Plate Selection Guide
High-Performance Self-Lubricating Bronze Bushing Solutions & Technologies. Minimize downtime, extend service life, and reduce costs for dynamic applications.
Oilless Wear Plate Selection Guide
Self-lubricating wear plates with graphite plugs or copper-powder sintered layers on metal base plates, for sliding surfaces in press tooling, dies and forming equipment.
1Overview
How an oilless wear plate works.
An oilless wear plate is manufactured with a controlled pattern of solid lubricant plugs or sintered lubricant layers embedded in a metal base plate. The base plate carries the mechanical load, while the embedded solid lubricant provides self-lubrication at the sliding interface.
Under rated conditions, the plate can operate without an external lubricating system, which supports reduced assembly time, lower oil consumption and simpler maintenance in press tooling applications.
2Key Features
- Lubrication-free operation. The plate may run without an external lubricating system under rated load and speed. A separate lubricating system can be omitted, assembly time can be reduced, oil pollution of the die area can be avoided, and the working environment can be kept clean.
- Friction and wear control. The combination of base plate and embedded solid lubricant provides controlled friction and self-lubrication. In rated operating windows, scoring and seizure are limited.
- Standard part sizes. A range of standard thicknesses and catalog sizes is available, supporting common press tooling design practices.
3Product Type Matrix
Eight standard catalog types grouped by base metal, lubricant system and plate thickness.
| Base Metal | Lubricant System | Thickness (mm) | Catalog No. | Sliding Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FC250 grey cast iron |
Graphite plugs | 20 | SESF / SESFT | Reliable sliding performance at low load and medium speed. |
| SS400 structural steel |
Copper-powder sintered layer with graphite | 20 | SOX / SOXT | Reliable sliding performance at low–medium load and medium speed. Copper–graphite sintered layer; low incidence of seizure. |
| S45C medium carbon steel |
Copper-powder sintered layer | 10 | TWX / TWXT | — (see catalog reference P.109 / P.111) |
| Copper alloy | Graphite plugs | 20 | SESW / SESWT | Reliable sliding performance at high load and low speed. Load- and wear-resistant; suited to reciprocating motion and frequent start / stop cycles. |
| Copper alloy | Graphite plugs | 10 | TWP / TWPT | — (see catalog reference P.115) |
| Copper alloy | Graphite plugs | 5 | UWP | — (see catalog reference P.117) |
| S45C hardened |
Graphite plugs | 20 | FRP | Surface hardness HRC 40 or higher; high wear resistance. |
| SKS3 alloy tool steel |
Graphite plugs | 10 | TSP | Surface hardness HRC 58 or higher; high wear resistance. |
Thickness values are nominal plate thicknesses. Catalog numbers with a “T” suffix denote alternate variants; confirm dimensions and part numbering with the manufacturer’s catalog.
4Sliding Characteristics — Rated Operating Values (No External Lubrication)
Maximum rated values of surface pressure p (N/mm²), sliding speed v (m/min) and the PV value (N/mm²·m/min), grouped by mating surface.
| Wear Plate Type | Hardened Surface (HRC ≥ 25) | Heat-Treated Steel or FC Casting (< HRC 25) | Raw Material (SS400) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| p (N/mm²) |
v (m/min) |
PV | p (N/mm²) |
v (m/min) |
PV | p (N/mm²) |
v (m/min) |
PV | |
| FC type (graphite on cast iron base) | 5 | 10 | 30 | 5 | 10 | 30 | 5 | 10 | 30 |
| Sintered type (copper–graphite sintered layer) | 50 | 30 | 100 | 25 | 30 | 60 | 25 | 30 | 50 |
| Bronze type (graphite on copper alloy base) | 100 | 15 | 150 | 50 | 15 | 150 | 25 | 15 | 150 |
PV value unit: N/mm²·m/min. Values apply when ambient temperature is 100 °C or lower, per manufacturer test data. Select a wear plate so that both p and the PV value remain within the rated limits shown above.
5Application Examples
Typical sliding interfaces in press tooling where oilless wear plates are used.
- Sliding surfaces between the punch and blankholder, and between the pad and blankholder.
- Heel blocks used when guide posts are installed.
- Sliding guide surfaces in forming dies and trim dies where lubrication-free operation is required.
6Operating Notes
Items marked REQUIRED are mandatory for reliable service.
- The sliding surface turns black or black-grey during operation from the solid lubricant film. This is normal — do not remove the film by wiping.
- When dies are in use, keep the sliding surface free of metal chips, dirt or other foreign matter.REQUIRED
- Apply a small amount of lubricant for initial lubrication during die spotting.REQUIRED
- When a die is reused after long storage, the sliding surface may show rust. Clean the surface and apply lubricant before reuse.
- If the plate is additionally machined, do not damage the sliding surface. Chamfer corners so that sharp edges or burrs are not present.REQUIRED
- Unbalanced loads can reduce bolt clamping force and may lead to bolt failure; backing up the wear plate is recommended.
7Additional Machining — Sintered Plates
Follow these requirements when the plate thickness must be adjusted or the sintered layer is machined.
- When adjusting plate thickness, machine the back (mounting) surface only.REQUIRED
- The sintered surface is less resistant to shock than a cast steel surface; protect it from impact and handling damage.
- If the sintered surface must be machined, finish it within Ra 1.6 or better — service life depends on the surface finish. Inspect the surface so no sharp edges or burrs remain at the corners.REQUIRED
- After machining, make sure no metal chips or debris remain on the sintered surface.REQUIRED
- Small porosity is normal on sintered surfaces, even after machining. Confirm the acceptance level with the manufacturer’s quality standard before use.
- The sintered material contains lubricant. If lubricant is lost during machining, replenish it by soaking the plate in ISO VG 32 industrial lubricant for 24 hours before use.REQUIRED
- Apply lithium-based grease on the sliding surface during assembly or after maintenance, for initial start-up.REQUIRED
8Engineering Disclaimer
The data in this guide, including rated pressures, speeds, PV values and surface finish guidance, is based on manufacturer standard test conditions and is provided for reference only. Actual performance depends on the specific application, mating material, surface condition, load profile, speed, temperature, lubrication state and environment.
Catalog numbers, thicknesses and dimensional references are indicative; confirm the exact part number, dimensions and quality standards with the manufacturer before ordering or machining. This document does not constitute a warranty or guarantee of fitness for any particular application. Final selection and validation are the responsibility of the equipment designer.
Metal Bushing (Lubricated Metal) -Self-Lubricating Bushing Materials
Bushings are specialized, self-lubricating metal components widely utilized across various industries due to their durability and low maintenance requirements. Self-lubricating metal bushings are engineered to function without additional lubrication in numerous applications, thereby minimizing maintenance needs. These bushings are available in various series and configurations, such as flanged bushings and split bearings, to meet specific application requirements.
Metal-Polymer Anti-Friction Plain Bearings
Metal-Polymer Composite Self-lubricating Bushing Material
Steel Back + Porous Bronze Sinter + PTFE
