The curfboard is new German made sporting equipment that combines the dynamics of a surfboard and a skateboard – with the ability to withstand extreme loads.
The curfboard is especially hard on its moving components, including the bearings.
They must be wear-resistant, resilient, maintenance-free and reliable even under the toughest "Curf" conditions.
To meet these requirements the developers curfboard GmbH chose wear-resistant plain bearings made of iglidur Z and iglidur J350 high-performance polymers from igus.
Featuring these new special axes, the manufacturer promises "the ultimate surf-ride feeling on wheels".
They do without any rubber dampers or springs and have a 4-joint kinematics, which makes them self-regulating. Gravity assists the automatic adjustment to the weight of the rider.
In addition, the board has a better response behaviour, making it easier to control. Another special feature is that the rider no longer has to push off to move. Instead, similar to surfing, speed is built up by shifting the body's weight – and even uphill.
The demands on the components are therefore particularly high. While the skateboard stresses the axles and the bearings particularly when cornering, the curfboard is exposed to constant stress.
To withstand these stresses, inventor Stephan Augustin, had to find plain bearings that would pass a strict hardness test.
He initially carried out a four-month outdoor test under the harshest conditions with bearings from various manufacturers.
"After evaluating the test results, it became apparent that only the igus plain bearings made of iglidur Z and iglidur J350 met the requirements," Augustin said.
Insensitivity to edge pressure
Alternative metal/PTFE composite plain bearings wore out after a short time and completely failed.
Since the plain bearings had to be abrasion-resistant and at the same time corrosion-free and maintenance-free despite the permanent high loads, the manufacturer chose the high-performance plastic iglidur Z for the bearings directly on the boom.
The material is characterised by its wear resistance and insensitivity to edge pressure. Plain bearings made of iglidur J350 are used at less stressed points.
No lubrication required
The material is very convincing due to its low coefficient of friction on steel and aluminium and is insensitive to shocks and impacts.
Another advantage is the lubrication-free iglidur bearings, so that no dirt can adhere to the bearings.
Also, both materials – like all iglidur plain bearing materials – do not require any lubrication. Thanks to the solid lubricants embedded in the plastic, the bearing remains completely dry. Dirt and dust cannot easily adhere and are easy to wash off.
Igus iglidur Z and iglidur J350 bearings are available in Australia from Treotham Automation.
To learn more about the curfboard visit: www.curfboard.com
Treotham Automation Pty Ltd
1300 65 75 64
