Round Flange Geometry and Uses

The round flange bushing is a common design for general machinery, including gearbox assemblies, transmission linkages, pump housings, and connecting-rod joints. The flange provides an integrated thrust surface while also serving as an assembly reference or locating face.

Typical bushing Flange Proportions

As a general starting point:

• Flange diameter: approximately 1.2–1.5 × bushing OD
• Flange thickness: approximately 0.15–0.25 × body length
• Increased flange thickness: recommended when higher axial loads or greater wear resistance are required

The final dimensions should be determined by the actual radial and axial loads, available space, shaft dimensions, and operating conditions. For significant axial loads, the flange face should be checked for bearing pressure in much the same way as a flat thrust washer.

What Is a Bronze Round Flange Bushing?

A bronze round flange bushing combines the radial bearing function of a cylindrical sleeve bushing with an integral flange for handling axial loads. The shaft slides freely through the bushing bore while the flange supports or locates adjacent components.

Depending on the bronze grade and lubrication design, flange bushings can be used in applications where low maintenance, good wear resistance, and reliable sliding performance are required.

Key Benefits

• Supports radial and axial loads in a single component
• Allows the shaft to slide freely within the bearing
• Flange provides an integrated axial load-bearing surface
• Available in metric and imperial sizes
• Self-lubricating options can reduce or eliminate regular grease or oil maintenance
• Suitable for a wide range of mechanical assemblies

Common Applications

Bronze flange bushings are commonly used in:

• Agricultural machinery
• Automotive equipment
• Pumps and hydraulic equipment
• Machine tools
• Gearboxes and transmission systems
• General industrial machinery
• Appliances and mechanical linkages

Flanged Bronze Bushings are available in (3) basic types:

• Plain Flange Bushing
• Graphite Plugged Flange Bushing
• Oil / Grease Grooved Flange Bushings
  A flange bearing is commonly used to provide support for a shaft that runs perpendicular to the bearing’s mounting surface. Shafts can create problems when high speeds or heavy loads create shaft flex, vibration and axial load or movement. This can be eased with the application of a bushing flange bearing that is located in such a way that it supports the shaft.

They are manufactured from a variety of different material, some of the most common Bronze Alloys include: C95400 Aluminum Bronze, C93200 Bearing Bronze and C86300 Manganese Bronze. We provide your desired Flange Bushings according to the specifications you require.

Not all flanged bronze bushings are created equal. The manufacturing process and material composition dictate their specific strengths and ideal use cases.

• Bimetallic Flanged Bushings:

• • Material Composition: These are composite wonders, typically featuring a low-carbon steel backing for structural strength and rigidity, metallurgically bonded to an inner layer of tin-lead bronze alloy (e.g., CuSn10Pb10) or other specialized bronze.

  • Key Characteristics: The steel backing provides high load-carrying capacity and excellent fatigue strength, making them resistant to shock and impact. The bronze layer offers superior anti-friction and wear-resistant properties.

Ideal For: Heavy-duty applications where high loads, impacts, and the need for good sliding properties converge. Think construction equipment, heavy vehicle suspensions, and industrial gearboxes.

• Sintered Bronze Flanged Bushings (Oil-Impregnated):

Manufacturing Process: Created using powder metallurgy. Fine bronze powder (often with additives like graphite) is compacted into the desired shape (including the flange) and then sintered at high temperatures. This process creates a porous structure.

Key Advantage – Self-Lubrication: The interconnected pores (typically 18-30% by volume) are vacuum-impregnated with lubricating oil. During operation, a slight temperature increase or shaft motion draws oil from the pores to the bearing surface, creating a hydrodynamic film. When at rest, the oil is drawn back into the pores by capillary action.

Benefits:

• • Maintenance-Free: Can offer extended lubrication-free periods, often up to 10,000 hours or more, depending on the application.

  • Quiet Operation: The oil film dampens noise.

  • Cost-Effective: Reduced need for external lubrication systems and maintenance.

Ideal For: Applications where continuous external lubrication is difficult, undesirable, or costly. Examples include small electric motors, home appliances, office equipment, and automotive components.

• Customized Flanged Bushings:

  • Your Needs, Our Expertise: Beyond standard offerings, bronzeoilless.com provides customized flanged bushings manufactured to your precise specifications.

  • Services: This includes support for drawings, specific dimensional tolerances, unique bushing flange designs, special material alloys, or additional surface treatments (e.g., tin plating for enhanced corrosion resistance or initial run-in).

  • Case Examples:

    • Automotive Engine Connecting Rod Bushings: Requiring tight tolerances and specific alloy properties for high-speed, high-load environments.

    • Marine Platform Hydraulic Rod Seals/Bushings: Needing specialized bronze alloys with superior corrosion resistance for harsh saltwater environments.

Material Matters: Choosing the Right Bronze Alloy

“Bronze” is a family of copper-based alloys rather than a single material. The alloying elements—such as tin, lead, aluminum, iron, manganese, nickel, and zinc—strongly influence strength, wear resistance, conformability, corrosion resistance, lubrication requirements, and operating temperature.

For a flanged bushing, material selection should be based on the actual load, sliding speed, lubrication condition, temperature, shaft material, and operating environment.

Alloy Grades Compared

Alloy Type	Common Grade / Composition	Typical Applications	Key Characteristics
Tin-Lead Bronze	CuSn10Pb10 and related leaded tin bronzes	Gearboxes, transmissions, connecting rods, heavy-duty bearings	Good anti-friction behavior, conformability and embeddability. Lead improves sliding performance where lubrication is limited.
Aluminum Bronze	C95400 / CuAl10Fe3	Marine equipment, mining machinery, valves, heavy-duty gears and shafts	High strength, excellent wear resistance and good corrosion resistance, including seawater environments. Performs well under high loads and elevated temperatures.
Silicon Bronze	Silicon-bronze grades vary by standard	Marine equipment, chemical-processing equipment, pumps and fittings	Good corrosion resistance, strength and weldability. Grade selection should be verified against the applicable material standard because designations and compositions vary.
Manganese Bronze	C86300 and related high-strength manganese bronzes	Large gears, heavy machinery, trunnion bearings and high-load, low-speed applications	High strength and hardness with good wear and shock-load resistance. Lubrication and mating-surface conditions remain important.
Oil-Impregnated Sintered Bronze	SAE 841 and similar porous bronze grades	General machinery, small motors, appliances and light-to-moderate loads	Porous structure retains oil and releases it during operation, providing continuous lubrication with low maintenance.

Tin-Lead Bronze

Leaded tin bronzes are widely used for conventional bearing applications because of their good sliding characteristics, conformability and embeddability. They are particularly useful where shaft alignment is not perfect or where small amounts of contamination may be present.

Aluminum Bronze

C95400 aluminum bronze is selected when higher strength and wear resistance are required. It is commonly used in marine, mining, valve and heavy industrial applications, particularly where corrosion resistance and mechanical strength are both important.

Manganese Bronze

C86300 manganese bronze is a high-strength copper alloy suited to demanding mechanical applications. Its combination of strength, hardness and wear resistance makes it suitable for heavy loads, low sliding speeds and shock-loading conditions.

Oil-Impregnated Sintered Bronze

Sintered bronze differs from cast or wrought bronze because its controlled porous structure can retain lubricating oil. During operation, oil is released to the bearing surface, making this material suitable for light- to moderate-load applications where routine lubrication is inconvenient.

Chemical Composition: C93200 Bearing Bronze

C93200 is a commonly specified leaded tin bronze bearing alloy. Typical composition limits are shown below. Actual requirements should always be checked against the applicable material specification and product form.

Element	C93200 Composition, wt.%
Cu	81.0–85.0
Sn	6.3–7.5
Pb	6.0–8.0
Zn	1.0–4.0
Ni*	1.0 max
Fe	0.20 max
Sb	0.35 max
P	0.15 max
Si	0.005 max
S	0.08 max

*Ni value includes Co where specified by the applicable standard. For continuous castings, phosphorus limits may differ. Copper may be calculated as Cu + Ni for determining the minimum copper content.

Chemical Composition: C95400 Aluminum Bronze

C95400 is an aluminum bronze commonly used for high-load bearing and wear applications.

Element	C95400 Composition, wt.%
Cu	83.0 min
Al	10.0–11.5
Fe	3.0–5.0
Mn	0.50 max
Ni*	1.5 max

*Ni value includes Co where specified by the applicable standard.

Chemical Composition: C86300 Manganese Bronze

C86300 provides a combination of high strength, hardness and wear resistance for demanding mechanical applications.

Element	C86300 Composition, wt.%
Cu	60.0–66.0
Zn	22.0–28.0
Al	5.0–7.5
Mn	2.5–5.0
Fe	2.0–4.0
Ni*	1.0 max
Pb	0.20 max
Sn	0.20 max

*Ni value includes Co where specified by the applicable standard.

How to Choose the Right Bronze for a Flanged Bushing

Material selection should start with the operating conditions rather than the alloy name alone.

Operating Requirement	Material Direction
General bearing service and good conformability	Leaded tin bronze
High load and high wear resistance	Aluminum bronze
Seawater or corrosive environment	Aluminum bronze or an appropriate corrosion-resistant bronze
Heavy load, low speed and shock loading	High-strength manganese bronze
Light-to-moderate load with minimal maintenance	Oil-impregnated sintered bronze
Dry, maintenance-free operation	Graphite-plugged bronze or another purpose-designed self-lubricating bronze

For oilless flanged bushings, solid lubricant such as graphite can be incorporated into a cast bronze alloy. This provides a different lubrication mechanism from oil-impregnated sintered bronze and is particularly useful for applications involving high loads, low speeds, elevated temperatures, or limited access for relubrication.

Final Material Selection

The right bronze alloy depends on the combination of radial load, axial load, sliding speed, PV value, temperature, lubrication, shaft hardness, corrosion exposure and required service life.

For custom flanged bushings, the material should therefore be selected together with the bushing geometry and operating conditions—not simply by choosing the highest-strength alloy.

Partner with Bronzeoilless.com for Your Flanged Bushing Needs

Flanged bronze bushings are more than just components; they are enablers of efficiency, reliability, and longevity in your machinery. Their ability to handle combined loads, provide precise axial location, and offer superior wear and friction characteristics makes them an intelligent choice for demanding applications.

At bronzeoilless.com, we don’t just supply parts; we provide solutions. Whether you need standard-sized bimetallic or sintered flanged bronze bushings, or a custom-engineered solution tailored to your unique application, our team has the expertise to guide you.

Ready to enhance your machinery’s performance with top-tier flanged bronze bushings?