Sleeve Bearing

[Phil]

I just bought a couple of sleeve bearing 80mm fans, they are rated at 31cfm and fell about as powerful as other 30cfm or so fans I have, these things are quiet though, I have some evercool 30cfm 80mm and these sleeve bearing fans are quieter than them, the fins and casing are really smooth with a slight reflective shine to them rather than the usual rough texture on mose fans so I'm guessing this accounts for the volume (lack of) you can just barely hear the motor of the fan (can't hear the air flow at all) so I'm guessing this is a trait of sleeve bearing fans, can any one tell me the advantages/disadvantages of sleeve bearing over normal ball bearing fans, I am guessing that sleeve bearings have more balls in them

[Fink]

Actually the sleeve bearing fans have no balls in them. Er, that didn't sound right...

A sleeve bearing is essentially a bushing made of brass or some kind of plastic that is fitted between the rotating fan shaft and the housing. The main problem with sleeve bearing fans is that they do not last as long as a ball bearing fan. They also tend to draw a little more power (5-10%) than thier ball bearing cousins. The sleeve bearing will eventually wear out (lower MTBF) and the fan will start to make a buzzing noise. You can get a little more life out of them if you oil the bearing once it starts to make noise, but you are only buying a few more weeks at the most.... On the plus side the sleeve bearing is quieter than the ball bearing fans of comperable CFM.

[Colin]

Panasonic's Panaflow fans have an enhanced sleeve bearing that is quiet and offers the long life of a quality ball bearing fan.

[SickBoy]

I had a sleeve bearing 80 MM fan die on me a couple weeks ago.... pissed me off!! I had the thing since mid july and I shouldn't have to replace fans that often. I am going ball bearing from now on, no more of this sleeve bearing junk.

SickBoy

[Fink]

Colin (Apr 09, 2001 08:35 p.m.):
Panasonic's Panaflow fans have an enhanced sleeve bearing that is quiet and offers the long life of a quality ball bearing fan.

You know, I have some sleeve bearing Panaflow fans that have been in constant operation for about 2 years. Longer than some of my Sunon fans and quite a bit quieter too.

[Tachyon]

Colin (Apr 09, 2001 08:35 p.m.):
Panasonic's Panaflow fans have an enhanced sleeve bearing that is quiet and offers the long life of a quality ball bearing fan.

Colin,

Can you provide me the engineering spec's or a link to them? What you say sounds good but I'd really like to see the hard data.

Terry

[Colin]

Digi-Key's online catalog should have the bearing specs.

[Colin]

Tachyon (Apr 10, 2001 08:57 a.m.):
Colin (Apr 09, 2001 08:35 p.m.):
Panasonic's Panaflow fans have an enhanced sleeve bearing that is quiet and offers the long life of a quality ball bearing fan.

Colin,

Can you provide me the engineering spec's or a link to them? What you say sounds good but I'd really like to see the hard data.

http://www.panasonic.com/industrial_oem/other/other_components_fans_panaflo_axial.htm
Terry

[Trap]

Dude i have 6 80mmSunon Sleeve fans built in my case and no problems at all!!!!They move 35cfm....and have lifetime warranty!
SUNON (http://www.Sunon.com)
They rock!!!!!!!!!

[Trap]

or use this one if u live in Europe(i do)
SUNON (http://www.sunon.fr)

[Trap]

Sorry my info was wrong they move 41.7 CFM not 35CFM
The exact fan i have is:KDE1208PTS1
its 34dBloud..