Oilite
Oilite is the original self-lubricating, oil-impregnated sintered bushing — a name so closely tied to the technology that it is often used generically for porous-metal plain bearings. Genuine Oilite bearings are produced from powdered metal that is compacted and sintered to a controlled interconnected porosity (typically around 18–25% of volume as general guidance), then vacuum-impregnated with a lubricating oil that fills those pores. This makes the material self-contained: the bearing carries its own lubricant supply rather than relying on external greasing.
In service the mechanism is capillary and hydrodynamic. As the shaft rotates and the bearing warms, oil is drawn from the porous matrix to the running surface to form a supporting film; when motion stops and the part cools, oil is reabsorbed back into the pores. The result is a maintenance-free, clean and quiet bearing best suited to low-to-moderate speeds and loads, intermittent or oscillating motion, and applications where re-lubrication is impractical. Standard forms run dry to the eye but should not normally be additionally greased, as grease can block the pores.
The range is defined primarily by its material grades: bronze (SAE 841), iron and iron-copper (SAE 863), and an aluminium grade, supplied as cylindrical and flanged bushes, thrust washers, self-aligning spherical bearings and machinable blanks. As oil-impregnated sintered bronze and sintered iron, Oilite is a direct functional analogue of Bushingo's Metafram house range — BP25 (sintered bronze) and FP20 (sintered iron) — and a common competitor part family that buyers cross-reference when requesting maintenance-free bushings.
Oilite (Bronze, SAE 841)
| Material | Oil-impregnated sintered bronze, nominally ~90% copper / 10% tin (SAE 841), porosity filled with lubricating oil |
|---|---|
| Forms | Cylindrical (plain) bush, Flanged bush, Thrust washer, Machinable blank / special, Strip and pressed forms |
| Typical size range | Standard bores typically from around 1.5–2 mm up to roughly 50 mm, with larger and special sizes made to order (general guidance, not certified dimensions) |
Key features
- Self-lubricating and maintenance-free — no external greasing needed in normal service
- Good corrosion resistance and quiet, low-friction running at low-to-moderate speed
- Wide availability in standard metric and imperial sizes; easy to specify
- Suits intermittent, oscillating and continuous rotary motion at moderate PV
- Can be supplied with special impregnating oils for temperature, food-safe or low-noise needs
Applications
- Fractional-horsepower and appliance motors
- Domestic appliances and white goods
- Office and business machines
- Automotive mechanisms (seat, window, pedal, HVAC actuators)
- Fans, blowers and small pumps
- Power tools and garden equipment
Cross-reference
Direct equivalent of Bushingo Metafram BP25 (oil-impregnated sintered bronze, ~90/10 CuSn). This is the classic SAE 841 bronze bushing that most competitor ranges share — GGB, SKF, Bowman and other sintered-bronze bushes cross to the same family, so an Oilite bronze part number can normally be quoted against BP25.
Super Oilite (Iron / Iron-Copper, SAE 863)
| Material | Oil-impregnated sintered iron and iron-copper (SAE 863, copper added to an iron base for higher strength), pores filled with lubricating oil |
|---|---|
| Forms | Cylindrical (plain) bush, Flanged bush, Thrust washer, Machinable blank / special |
| Typical size range | Similar standard bore band to the bronze grade, roughly 2 mm up to ~50 mm, with special sizes to order (general guidance) |
Key features
- Higher static load capacity and hardness than bronze at lower material cost
- Self-lubricating and maintenance-free through impregnated oil reservoir
- Good wear resistance for heavier or shock-loaded low-speed duty
- Iron-copper (SAE 863) variant raises strength versus plain sintered iron
- Best suited to lower surface speeds than the bronze grade
Applications
- Agricultural and construction machinery pivots
- Heavier-duty appliance and motor bearings
- Automotive and off-highway linkages
- Material-handling and conveyor components
- Slow-speed, high-load oscillating joints
Cross-reference
Closest to Bushingo Metafram FP20 (sintered iron). The iron-copper SAE 863 grade sits alongside FP20 as the higher-load, lower-cost maintenance-free option where bronze is not required; where extra strength or a specific alloy behaviour is needed, Bushingo's SO16 sintered alloy is the next reference point. Competitor SAE 863 iron-copper bushings cross to the same FP20 family.
Request a quote for Super Oilite (Iron / Iron-Copper, SAE 863) ↗
Aluminium Oilite
| Material | Oil-impregnated sintered aluminium-based alloy (lightweight, non-magnetic), pores filled with lubricating oil |
|---|---|
| Forms | Cylindrical (plain) bush, Flanged bush, Thrust washer |
| Typical size range | Offered in standard small-to-medium bore sizes to order; typical ranges comparable to the bronze grade (general guidance) |
Key features
- Low weight and non-magnetic — useful where mass or magnetic signature matters
- Self-lubricating and maintenance-free like the bronze and iron grades
- Good thermal conductivity and clean running
- Suited to lighter loads and lower speeds than bronze or iron
- Selected where corrosion behaviour or weight favours aluminium over bronze
Applications
- Lightweight instrument and electronic assemblies
- Aerospace and portable-equipment mechanisms (light duty)
- Non-magnetic or sensor-adjacent applications
- Small motors and precision mechanisms where weight is critical
Cross-reference
No direct aluminium grade exists in the Metafram range; the nearest functional substitutes are Bushingo Metafram BP25 (sintered bronze) for general maintenance-free duty, or the SO16 sintered alloy where a specific performance property is needed. Specify Aluminium Oilite crosses on application (weight / non-magnetic) rather than on a like-for-like alloy match, and request a quote against the recommended BP25/SO16 alternative.
Oilite Self-Aligning (Spherical) Bearings
| Material | Oil-impregnated sintered bronze (SAE 841) or iron / iron-copper (SAE 863) in a spherical, self-aligning outer form |
|---|---|
| Forms | Spherical self-aligning bush, With retaining housing / clip mount, Flanged self-aligning variant |
| Typical size range | Standard small-to-medium shaft sizes to order; bore ranges comparable to the equivalent cylindrical grade (general guidance) |
Key features
- Accommodates shaft misalignment and mounting tolerance without edge loading
- Maintenance-free self-lubrication from the impregnated sintered body
- Available in bronze or iron/iron-copper grade to match load and speed
- Reduces assembly precision requirements in fabricated frames
- Quiet, low-friction running for oscillating and rotary motion
Applications
- Fan and blower motor end bearings
- Appliance and HVAC shaft supports with alignment variation
- Pump and gearmotor spindles
- General light machinery where housings are not precisely co-axial
Cross-reference
This is a form family rather than a distinct material: it maps to Bushingo Metafram BP25 (bronze) or FP20 (iron) depending on grade selected. Where Bushingo supplies self-aligning or spherical maintenance-free bearings, quote against the matching BP25/FP20 material; otherwise a cylindrical BP25/FP20 with an aligning housing is the practical cross-reference.
Request a quote for Oilite Self-Aligning (Spherical) Bearings ↗
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