ISO 12128:2020

Plain bearings - Lubrication holes, grooves and pockets - Dimensions, types, designation and their application to bearing bushes

This document specifies dimensions for lubrication holes, grooves and pockets for bearing bushes. These dimensions can be entered, for example on drawings, using the designation examples. Their use depends in particular on the specific operating conditions. In addition, it enables the user to assign the different types of lubricant feed and distribution to solid and steel-backed plain bearing bushes made of copper alloys, aluminium alloys, thermosetting plastics, thermoplastics or artificial carbon. NOTE Different types of lubricant feed and distribution for plain bearing bushes made of sintered metals have not been specified due to the fact that these bushes are soaked with lubricant. Plain bearing bushes made of artificial carbon are not lubricated with oil or grease.

Paliers lisses — Trous, rainures et poches de graissage — Dimensions, types, désignation et leurs applications dans les bagues

Drsni ležaji - Luknje za mazanje, žlebovi in prekati - Mere, oblike, poimenovanje in uporaba na ležajnih pušah

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 29-Apr-2020
• ICS: 21.100.10 - Plain bearings
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 123/SC 3 - Dimensions, tolerances and construction details
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 123/SC 3 - Dimensions, tolerances and construction details
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Start Date: 03-Nov-2025
• Completion Date: 13-Dec-2025
• Ref Project: SIST ISO 12128:2021 - Plain bearings - Lubrication holes, grooves and pockets - Dimensions, types, designation and their application to bearing bushes

Relations

• Revises: ISO 12128:2001 - Plain bearings - Lubrication holes, grooves and pockets - Dimensions, types, designation and their application to bearing bushes
• Effective Date: 07-Jul-2018

Overview

ISO 12128:2020 - Plain bearings: lubrication holes, grooves and pockets - specifies standardized dimensions, types, designation and application rules for lubrication features in plain bearing bushes. The standard covers lubrication holes, longitudinal/circumferential grooves and lubrication pockets for solid and steel-backed plain bearing bushes made of copper alloys, aluminium alloys, thermosetting plastics, thermoplastics and artificial carbon. It clarifies how to indicate these features on drawings and how to assign lubricant feed and distribution types to common bush materials. (Sintered-metal bushes are excluded because they are typically soaked with lubricant; artificial carbon is not lubricated with oil or grease.)

Key topics and requirements

• Dimensioning basis: Lubrication feature dimensions are given relative to the bearing wall thickness (s); the diameter (d) is an auxiliary dimension.
• Lubrication holes: Defined types (e.g., A, B, L) with recommended sizes and designation examples (e.g., “Lubrication hole ISO 12128 – A3”).
• Lubrication grooves: Multiple groove types (C, D, E, F, G, H, J, etc.) with depth, width and shape guidance; closed-end and open-end variants are specified and labelled (example designation: “Lubrication groove ISO 12128 – D0,8”).
• Lubrication pockets: Type K pockets for larger lubrication reservoirs; pocket dimensions and designation (example: “Lubrication pocket ISO 12128 – K2,5”).
• Design rules:
  • Avoid placing holes/grooves in highly stressed zones.
  • Grooves/pockets generally should not extend the full bearing length (except artificial carbon exceptions).
  • Edges chamfered to max 0.5 mm or rounded; avoid sharp transitions.
  • Permissible deviations use tolerance class “c” per ISO 2768‑1.
  • For multiple holes, standard angular spacing applies (2 holes = 180°, 3 = 120°, 4 = 90°).
• Designation on drawings: The standard provides concise designation formats and examples for bushes incorporating these features and how symbols x (distance from insert side) and h (groove pitch) are used.

Applications and users

ISO 12128:2020 is directly useful for:

• Mechanical and design engineers specifying bearing bushes
• OEMs and machine designers requiring reliable lubricant feed solutions
• Bearing manufacturers and machine shop drawing authors
• Maintenance engineers selecting or replacing plain bearings
• Technical drafters preparing ISO-compliant drawings

Practical uses include designing lubrication paths for journal bearings, slideways and bushings in engines, pumps, construction equipment and industrial machinery where controlled lubricant feed and retention are required.

Related standards

• ISO 4379 (Copper alloy bushes) - often used together for material/dimension specs
• ISO 4383 (Multilayer materials for thin-walled plain bearings)

Keywords: ISO 12128:2020, plain bearings, lubrication holes, lubrication grooves, lubrication pockets, bearing bushes, bearing wall thickness, lubrication designation.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-oktober-2021
Nadomešča:
SIST ISO 12128:2002
Drsni ležaji - Luknje za mazanje, žlebovi in prekati - Mere, oblike, poimenovanje in
uporaba na ležajnih pušah
Plain bearings - Lubrication holes, grooves and pockets - Dimensions, types, designation
and their application to bearing bushes
Paliers lisses - Trous, rainures et poches de graissage - Dimensions, types, désignation
et leurs applications dans les bagues
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: ISO 12128:2020
ICS:
21.100.10 Drsni ležaji Plain bearings
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 12128
Third edition
2020-04
Plain bearings — Lubrication holes,
grooves and pockets — Dimensions,
types, designation and their
application to bearing bushes
Paliers lisses — Trous, rainures et poches de graissage — Dimensions,
types, désignation et leurs applications dans les bagues
Reference number
©
ISO 2020
© ISO 2020
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting
on the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address
below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Dimensions, types and designation . 1
4.1 General . 1
4.2 Lubrication holes . 1
4.2.1 Dimensions and types . 1
4.2.2 Designation . 2
4.3 Lubrication grooves . 2
4.3.1 Dimensions and types . 2
4.3.2 Designation . 4
4.4 Lubrication pockets . 4
4.4.1 Dimensions and types . 4
4.4.2 Designation . 5
4.5 Design . 5
5 Lubrication holes, grooves and pockets on bearing bushes . 5
6 Examples of the designation of bushes with lubrication holes and/or grooves .7
Bibliography . 8
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/ directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/ patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www .iso .org/
iso/ foreword .html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 123, Plain bearings, Subcommittee SC 3,
Dimensions, tolerances and construction details.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO 12128:2001), which has been technically
revised. The main changes to the previous edition are as follows:
— dimension units added to tables;
— Bibliography added and ISO 4379 and ISO 4383 moved from Clause 2 to the Bibliography;
— references corrected.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www .iso .org/ members .html.
iv © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 12128:2020(E)
Plain bearings — Lubrication holes, grooves and pockets
— Dimensions, types, designation and their application to
bearing bushes
1 Scope
This document specifies dimensions for lubrication holes, grooves and pockets for bearing bushes.
These dimensions can be entered, for example on drawings, using the designation examples. Their use
depends in particular on the specific operating conditions.
In addition, it enables the user to assign the different types of lubricant feed and distribution to solid
and steel-backed plain bearing bushes made of copper alloys, aluminium alloys, thermosetting plastics,
thermoplastics or artificial carbon.
NOTE Different types of lubricant feed and distribution for plain bearing bushes made of sintered metals
have not been specified due to the fact that these bushes are soaked with lubricant. Plain bearing bushes made of
artificial carbon are not lubricated with oil or grease.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated referenc
...

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 12128
Third edition
2020-04
Plain bearings — Lubrication holes,
grooves and pockets — Dimensions,
types, designation and their
application to bearing bushes
Paliers lisses — Trous, rainures et poches de graissage — Dimensions,
types, désignation et leurs applications dans les bagues
Reference number
©
ISO 2020
© ISO 2020
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting
on the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address
below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Dimensions, types and designation . 1
4.1 General . 1
4.2 Lubrication holes . 1
4.2.1 Dimensions and types . 1
4.2.2 Designation . 2
4.3 Lubrication grooves . 2
4.3.1 Dimensions and types . 2
4.3.2 Designation . 4
4.4 Lubrication pockets . 4
4.4.1 Dimensions and types . 4
4.4.2 Designation . 5
4.5 Design . 5
5 Lubrication holes, grooves and pockets on bearing bushes . 5
6 Examples of the designation of bushes with lubrication holes and/or grooves .7
Bibliography . 8
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/ directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/ patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see www .iso .org/
iso/ foreword .html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 123, Plain bearings, Subcommittee SC 3,
Dimensions, tolerances and construction details.
This third edition cancels and replaces the second edition (ISO 12128:2001), which has been technically
revised. The main changes to the previous edition are as follows:
— dimension units added to tables;
— Bibliography added and ISO 4379 and ISO 4383 moved from Clause 2 to the Bibliography;
— references corrected.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www .iso .org/ members .html.
iv © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 12128:2020(E)
Plain bearings — Lubrication holes, grooves and pockets
— Dimensions, types, designation and their application to
bearing bushes
1 Scope
This document specifies dimensions for lubrication holes, grooves and pockets for bearing bushes.
These dimensions can be entered, for example on drawings, using the designation examples. Their use
depends in particular on the specific operating conditions.
In addition, it enables the user to assign the different types of lubricant feed and distribution to solid
and steel-backed plain bearing bushes made of copper alloys, aluminium alloys, thermosetting plastics,
thermoplastics or artificial carbon.
NOTE Different types of lubricant feed and distribution for plain bearing bushes made of sintered metals
have not been specified due to the fact that these bushes are soaked with lubricant. Plain bearing bushes made of
artificial carbon are not lubricated with oil or grease.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 2768-1, General tolerances — Part 1: Tolerances for linear and angular dimensions without individual
tolerance indications
3 Terms and definitions
No terms and definitions are listed in this document.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/
...