Products for model making

Lightweight and a high load capacity

Model making is not just a hobby. It offers model makers the possibility to express themselves in a creative way and show what they can do with their hands. Models such as ships, aircraft and vehicles are recreated on many scales using construction kits - demanding work that requires great attention to detail. Alongside design, technology and electronics also play an important role. Whether put into motion by remote control (RC) or just as an ornamental model on a shelf – detail and precision makes model making very popular. As a motion plastics manufacturer, igus is setting new technological standards in this sector. Maintenance-free plain bearings, spherical bearings and linear guides offer many benefits especially for model making. The combination of light weight with high mechanical strength proves ideal for high-quality models.

Advantages of igus products:

Cost-effective
Save installation space and weight
Maintenance-free for 24/7 use
Fast delivery
Simple assembly
Complete system or individual components with no minimum order quantity
Service life calculation
Quiet and low vibration

Our top products for modelling

Spare parts and prototypes from the 3D printer

Up to 50 times longer service life than standard 3D printing materials

Simply order a customised component for your model-making project online with no minimum order quantity: upload your 3D model and select the right material and process with immediate price calculation. Ready to ship in one to three days.

Find out more about 3D printing

iglidur plain bearings

Light and quiet
Insensitive to dirt
Large standard range and customised design

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igubal spherical bearings

Up to 40% more cost-effective than metal spherical bearings
80% lighter than metal alternatives
Lubrication-free and therefore low-maintenance

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Slewing ring bearings (PRT)

Very light
Splittable bearing for difficult installation situations
Suitable for applications with high loads

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xiros ball bearings

Robust
Corrosion-free
Predictable service life

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drylin N low-profile guide systems

Very lightweight
Low installation height, 6-12mm
Numerous carriage options

To the drylin N low-profile linear guides

e-chains E2 micro

For the smallest installation spaces
Strong, light and quiet
Ideal for highly dynamic applications

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Success stories

Ornithopter: flying robot with historical origins

The flying eagle V3 is an innovative ornithopter with a wingspan of 190cm and a flight time of up to 26 minutes. The flying robot was realised with the help of igubal rod ends, which are used in the wing-beating mechanism. They allow for low-friction movement, are lightweight, highly resilient and completely free from lubrication.

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Lightweight flanged ball bearings in model aeroplane for remote sensing

The Institute of Space Systems uses an aircraft weighing 25kg to record and analyse environmental data. Due to stringent weight requirements, xiros flanged ball bearings are used, which impress with their ability to compensate for misalignment and their very low weight.

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Remote-controlled RC cars for off-road use

This application shows radio-remote-controlled scale-1.5 prototypes being used off-road. Plain bearings and thrust washers made of the material iglidur G replace metal bushings that quickly oxidise or corrode when exposed to dirt, mud and snow.

To the prototypes

Whisper-quiet energy supply at Knuffingen Airport

Series 255 E2 energy chains are used under the runway at Knuffingen Airport in Hamburg's Miniatur Wunderland. The chains are installed in a super aluminium trough in reverse with a silencer profile - a whisper-quiet solution that visitors cannot hear.

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Pole position in model racing

In the fastest RC bike in model racing with a top speed of up to 110km/h, igus is in the running. European champion Clark Wohlert swears by our iglidur plain bearings, which allow for clearance-free and low-friction movements and are also extremely light.

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Drive without lubrication

On this Rhaetian Railway locomotive from Lang Modellbau, iglidur plain bearings are used on the wheel axes under the locomotive and in the drive. This eliminates the need to oil the gears. The scale-1:45 locomotive had to be taken apart painstakingly for this purpose. An alternative would have been ball bearings, but these were not an option for cost reasons.