Abstract: In a sliding bearing, a metallic layer is coated on a bearing base bush and is provided with grooved or helical or crossing indentations with intermediate elevations. Applied in a uniform manner onto the so-formed metallic layer is a sliding layer of softer material. Under pressure or application of shear forces, the material of the sliding layer provided above the elevations is forced through plastic shaping to flow into the indentations so as to provide a levelled and smooth sliding surface covering the metallic layer.

Abstract: A perforated foil bearing surface having dry lubricant reservoirs dispersed throughout and a method of producing such perforated foil bearing surfaces.

Abstract: A hardened bearing surface (36, 38, 42, 48, 50, 51 and 52) on a component (14, 16) of a rotary cutter drill bit (10) and the method of forming same. A composite mix (60) of alloy material (56) and base material (54) forms the hardened bearing surface (36, 38, 42, 48, 50, 51 and 52) with the alloy material (56) consisting of at least ten (10) percent of the adjacent base material (54) and of an optimum of around fifty (50) percent. The alloy material (56) of predetermined amounts of predetermined elements is positioned on the base material (54) and a precisely controlled high energy density source, such as a laser beam (58), melts the alloy material (56) and adjacent base material (56) to form the composite mix (60) defining the hardened bearing surface.