Lightweight and robust polymer bearing technology for Moon Buggy in NASA competition

Application Overview

• What was needed: polymer bearing technology at various points in the buggy, such as in the differential gear or the wheel suspension
• Requirements: The bearing technology had to withstand high forces permanently and be lightweight.
• Industry: Aerospace, aerospace industry
• Success for the customer: The plastic bearing technology was able to contribute to the young designers making it to the top of the podium with their buggy. The glowing orange igus® MoonBuggy trade show was on permanent display for a year at the US Space & Rocket Centre in Huntsville, Alabama, next to the original MoonBuggy.

The MoonBuggy World Championship is a competition where 4-wheel buggies from all over the world compete against each other on a NASA test track. The course corresponds to the conditions on the surface of the moon. Conquering this hilly landscape is a demanding challenge for teams and materials. Driving against the clock requires enormous muscle power, which is transmitted to the four wheels via the gearbox. At speeds of up to 80 km/h, the force exerted on all vehicle components is extremely high and beyond normal cycling requirements.

It is precisely at these points that plastic bearings are located, which fulfil these requirements and at the same time significantly reduce the weight of the buggy thanks to their lightness. Last year, the young designers prioritised the use of future-oriented materials and were able to gain initial experience with plastic bearings. Among other things, this contributed to their buggy making it to the top of the podium and becoming world champion. In the following year, numerous lubrication-free polymer bearings were again installed in the buggy. Several of them support the differential gear and the wheel suspension, to name just two examples.