SELF-LUBRICATING BEARINGS & BUSHINGS
Self-Lubricating, Oil-Impregnated Bronze Flange Bearings
Proform Powder Metal: Bronze Frange Bearings
Proform manufactures precision bronze flange bearings for OEMs, industrial distributors, and equipment manufacturers across a wide range of applications. Combining the radial support of a sleeve bearing with an integrated flange, these compact bearing components can help support rotating shafts, maintain bearing position, and accommodate axial loads within a single design.
Our standard bronze flange bearings are manufactured using powder metallurgy and impregnated with SAE oil. The controlled porosity created during the powder metal manufacturing process allows lubricant to be stored within the bearing, providing self-lubricating performance during operation.
Alternative materials and lubricants may also be available depending on the part, operating conditions, and application requirements.
Whether you need a standard flange bearing or a custom component for a high-volume application, Proform has the manufacturing capacity and engineering expertise to support your program.
Find a standard bronze flange bearing or contact Proform to discuss your application.
Talk to a Proform solutions expert today
As the world’s largest manufacturer of powder metal bronze bearings and bushings, we support organizations ranging from global OEMs to regional distributors, MRO suppliers, and online industrial catalogs. Whether your business requires millions of production parts or reliable inventory for replacement components, Proform has the engineering expertise and manufacturing capacity to meet your needs.
What Is a Bronze Flange Bearing?
A bronze flange bearing is a cylindrical sleeve bearing with an integrated flange at one end.
The cylindrical portion of the bearing supports a rotating or sliding shaft and provides a low-friction bearing surface. The flange provides an additional surface perpendicular to the shaft and can help locate the bearing within an assembly, prevent axial movement, or accommodate thrust loads.
This combination can allow a single component to provide both radial and axial bearing surfaces while maintaining a simple, compact design.
Bronze flange bearings may also be referred to as:
- Flanged bronze bushings
- Flanged sleeve bearings
- Bronze flange bushings
- Oil-impregnated flange bearings
- Sintered bronze flange bearings
Proform Part Portfolio
CLICK HERE to check out a gallery of standard and made-to-order bronze and iron components.
Common Bronze Flange Bearing Applications
The combination of radial shaft support and an integrated flange makes bronze flange bearings suitable for a wide range of mechanical assemblies.
Common applications include:
- Electric motors
- Automotive components
- Agricultural equipment
- Outdoor power equipment
- Home appliances
- Pumps
- Fans and blowers
- HVAC equipment
- Power tools
- Gearboxes
- Actuators
- Material handling equipment
- Industrial machinery
- Recreational vehicles
Flange bearings are especially useful in compact assemblies where bearing location, shaft support, and axial loading must be managed within limited space.
Flange Bearing Sizes & Configurations
Proform manufactures bronze flange bearings in a wide range of sizes for both standard and custom applications.
Available configurations can include:
- Inch flange bearings
- Metric flange bearings
- Standard catalog sizes
- Application-specific dimensions
- Custom powder metal geometries
For high-volume OEM applications, custom tooling can be developed around specific dimensional and performance requirements.
Looking for a specific size? Search our standard bronze flange bearing selection.
Important dimensions typically include:
- Inside diameter (d)
- Outside diameter (d1)
- Bearing length (H)
- Flange outside diameter (D)
- Flange thickness (H1)
How Oil-Impregnated Bronze Bearings Work
Powder metal manufacturing creates a network of microscopic, interconnected pores throughout the bronze bearing.
Following sintering, these pores can be filled with lubricating oil. During operation, lubricant stored within the bearing helps create a lubricating film between the bearing and mating surfaces, reducing friction and wear.
Oil-impregnated bronze flange bearings are particularly useful in applications where routine lubrication would be difficult, costly, or impractical.
- Reduced maintenance
- Low-friction operation
- Excellent wear resistance
- Quiet performance
- Compact design
- Long service life
- Consistent dimensional quality
- Cost-effective high-volume production
Standard Bronze &
SAE Oil Impregnation
Bronze with SAE oil impregnation is Proform’s standard flange bearing configuration and provides reliable performance across a broad range of industrial and OEM applications.
Powder metal bronze combines wear resistance and dimensional consistency with the ability to retain lubricant throughout its porous structure.
Oil impregnation provides an internal source of lubrication that can reduce or eliminate the need for routine external lubrication.
For applications with unique performance requirements, alternative material and lubricant options may also be available.
Material & Lubrication Options
Bearing performance depends on more than dimensions alone.
Load, speed, operating temperature, shaft characteristics, duty cycle, and environmental conditions can all influence material and lubrication requirements.
Depending on the specific part and application, Proform can evaluate alternative:
- Powder metal materials
- Bronze compositions
- Lubricants
- Oil viscosities
- Specialty impregnation options
Our engineering team can help determine whether standard bronze with SAE oil impregnation is appropriate or whether an alternative solution should be considered.
Talk with Proform Engineering about your application requirements.
Bronze Flange Bearing vs. Bronze Sleeve Bearing
Bronze flange bearings and bronze sleeve bearings operate on the same basic principle, but their geometries serve different application requirements.
A sleeve bearing is cylindrical and primarily provides a bearing surface between a shaft and housing.
A flange bearing adds an integrated shoulder at one end of that sleeve.
The flange can:
- Help position the bearing within the housing
- Prevent the bearing from moving axially
- Provide an additional bearing surface
- Accommodate axial or thrust loads
- Simplify an assembly by combining functions
When an application requires both shaft support and axial positioning, a flange bearing may provide a more efficient solution than using separate components.
Why Choose Powder Metal Flange Bearings?
Proform supports both standard bearing requirements and custom OEM applications.
Self-Lubricating Performance
The porous structure of powder metal bronze allows lubricating oil to be stored throughout the bearing, providing an internal source of lubrication during operation.
Radial & Axial Support
The cylindrical bearing surface supports the shaft while the integrated flange can provide axial positioning and an additional thrust-bearing surface.
Simplified Assembly
Combining sleeve-bearing and flange functions into one component can reduce part count and simplify assembly.
Reduced Maintenance
Oil impregnation can reduce or eliminate routine lubrication requirements in many applications.
Quiet, Smooth Operation
Bronze provides an effective low-friction bearing surface for applications where smooth and quiet movement is important.
High-Volume Cost Efficiency
Powder metallurgy enables large quantities of highly repeatable components to be produced with excellent material utilization and limited secondary machining.
Bronze Bearings: Engineering Considerations
Selecting the appropriate flange bearing requires consideration of the complete operating environment.
Important factors can include:
- Radial load
- Axial load
- Shaft speed
- Operating temperature
- Shaft material and finish
- Bearing clearance
- Flange loading
- Lubrication requirements
- Duty cycle
- Environmental exposure
- Expected service life
Providing this information early allows Proform’s engineering team to better evaluate the appropriate bearing configuration, material, and lubricant for your application.
Why Proform?
Agricultural equipment manufacturers choose Proform because we combine engineering expertise with world-class manufacturing capabilities.
Our advantages include:
- World’s largest manufacturer of bronze powder metal bearings and bushings
- More than 200 million components produced annually
- Custom alloy development
- In-house tooling design
- High-volume OEM production
- Precision quality control
- Responsive engineering support
- Reliable North American manufacturing
Whether you’re developing next-generation agricultural machinery or improving an existing platform, Proform delivers dependable powder metal solutions built for demanding field conditions.
Whether you’re sourcing an existing bearing or developing a custom component for a new application, Proform provides the engineering expertise, manufacturing capacity, and consistent quality needed to support your program.