2, rue de la Ternière
Avrillé cedex FRANCE
- 35 million casings designed each year
- Co-designer of custom fasteners for 100 years and manufacturer of standard products
- From M6 to M10 and from 8 mm to 30 mm (inner Ø suitable for screw passage)
- Steel, stainless steel, brass, etc. (other materials available on request).
A spacer can be used to create space, position several elements or protect the integrity of an assembly by limiting the compressive load exerted.
Custom spacer - Cylindrical spacer - Custom bushing
Custom spacer - Cylindrical spacer - Custom bushing
- Feasibility checks using the FMEA tool, which is used to analyze failure modes, their effects and criticality.
- Production of initial samples in medium series, and validation of production with PPAPs in accordance with IATF 16949.
- Development of detailed production processes according to the APQP quality process
- Collection and analysis of production data to identify trends and variations. 3PPM in 2023.
The advantages of manufacturing with LGC Industries
- 24 Multi-spindle lathes
- 45 Tours Escomatic
- 42 Banding machines
- 8 Plunge and enfilade grinders
Find out more about the technical features of our products
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What is a spacer?
A spacer is a rigid, cylindrical element, often made of steel, used to connect and maintain two other parts at a fixed distance.
This component is commonly used in mechanical assemblies to create a gap or maintain a precise distance between several elements.
What is a socket?
A bushing is a high-precision mechanical part that connects two parts, which may be movable, creating a fastening that :
- Reduces assembly weight
- Eliminates friction between parts.
Bushings are found in car engines or suspensions and are used for :
- Positioning or centering of several elements in an assembly, called a centering sleeve.
- Protect the integrity of the assembly by limiting the compression load called a compression sleeve.
These components are often made of metal or plastic, and take the form of hollow tubes or cylinders. Bushings are particularly useful in applications requiring weight reduction.
For example, the use of smooth bushes reduces the consumption of expensive anti-friction materials and simplifies repairs, cutting installation costs and the cost of replacing worn bushes with new ones.
What's the difference between a spacer and a bushing?
At first glance, the bushes and spacers look identical. The major difference lies in the role of each part.
The purpose of a spacer is to create a gap between two parts. In English, "spacer" means to create and maintain a gap.
The main application for a spacer is in rotating systems such as ball bearings (bicycle hubs, gearboxes, etc.). It creates a gap between the bearings to hold them in a fixed position.
The name of the bushing is more significant than that of the spacer, as it has several specialized roles. A cylindrical bushing is not a smooth bushing, but rather a centering or positioning bushing, underlining its crucial role in assembly or alignment operations.
This is not a simple linguistic error, but a misunderstanding of the various functions of a bushing. It's common to confuse these terms, but it's crucial to recognize the importance of bushes in applications more specific than those of spacers.
Different types of bushes and spacers
As with other fasteners, a variety of bushes and spacers are available.
- The ground centering sleeve / ground centering spacer: for precise alignment of two holes, ensuring perfect centering and alignment in a mechanical assembly.
- The compression sleeve / compression spacer, also known as a spacer: maintains a gap between two parts.
- The threaded bush - threaded / threaded spacer - threaded, also known as threaded insert: the inside diameter is adapted to the passage of a screw, and the outside diameter ensures a perfect fit.
Spacers play a crucial role in preserving the integrity of plastic part assemblies by protecting them from compressive stresses. Overmolding prevents unwanted deformation and corrects dimensional variations caused by thermal shock.
Would you like to find out more about our spacers?
Visit our dedicated article: All you need to know about spacers