igus (East Providence, R.I.) has announced that its iglide self-lubricating, maintenance-free plastic bearings have been used in the design and development of a single-passenger, urban commuting vehicle made by Redbud Technology LLC, out of Union Grove, Ala. The Personal Transport Vehicle – Ground, or PTV-G, uses iglide plastic bearings in both the independent rear suspension and in the rear wheel lean-and-tilt mechanisms. The company says this implementation shows how the bearings are ideal for harsh and dirty operating environments because they will not corrode, and require no maintenance or external lubrication.
The company had donated the bearings at no cost to the school, which aims to teach students about real-world engineering challenges, through its Young Engineers Support (Y.E.S.) program. The PTV-G will serve as an education reasource to help technical high school, community collegn and university students develop and analyze commuting concepts with 3D CAD/CAE/CAM, plus the associated manufacturing, assembly and lifecycle maintenance issues.
To learn more, visit igus.com.