Connecting Rod Bearing: Description and Operation

Connecting Rod Bearings

"Sputtered bearings" are mounted on the rod side as connecting-rod bearings. Sputtered bearings are high-performance bearings. Higher engine output powers require materials with a significantly higher fatigue strength, lower wearing rate, and good corrosion resistance at high temperatures, particularly for the connecting-rod bearings.

NOTE: Two lugs are provided for the twist lock in order to ensure that the sputtered bearings are mounted on the rod side. In addition, the identification "Sputter" is provided on the rear of the bearing.

These complex requirements are met by way of cathode sputtering. Micro-particles are ejected from a donor material in a high vacuum. These particles are applied uniformly to the part which is to be coated using electromagnetic fields. These magnetron layers are characterized by extremely fine distribution of the individual structural elements. The basis is the already known three-component bearing. The sputtered bearing has a conventional bearing structure, with the top plated layer replaced with a sputtered lining.