igus DryLin spindle-lift tables offer lower costs for linear guide systems
May 5, 2011 by admin
Filed under Linear Guides
igus (www.igus.com) has announced the latest addition to its portfolio of spindle-lift tables in DryLin linear guide systems, the DryLin SLW and DryLin HTSP.
A compact, flat linear table that features a spindle drive, DryLin SLW can provide utmost torsional strength at a height of more than one and one-eighth inches. This low-clearance design is suitable for tight space restrictions and opens the door to a vast array of applications. It is the first spindle-lift table offered with the new DryLin W linear guide system, which is a low-cost, compact, modular and easy to install solution.
DryLin HTSP is a plastic spindle lift table from the range of DryLin R linear bearings that is equipped with plastic slides and crossbars, making it the company’s first plastic spindle-lift table offered at a low cost. It is corrosion-free, lightweight and lubrication-free. Its stroke can be adjusted either through a servo motor or manually. Weight can be reduced by an aluminum spindle and carbon shaft with the table. To achieve lower cost, Igus used high-performance polymers in building the spindle table.
Both products are suitable for use in textile and packaging industries. The company’s linear guide systems are a good replacement for re-circulating ball bearings mainly due to their oil-free, maintenance free and self-lubricating operation. Thus, contaminants will not thrive in DryLin. This effectively prevents shaft damage and performance degradation. Aside from offering a low coefficient of friction, DryLin bearing and guide systems are also wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant.
DryLin HTSP and SLW spindle-lift tables are also available in various sizes.
A member of the iglide suite of plastic bearings, the DryLin family also features DryLin T linear slides, DryLin R linear plain bearings, Quadroslide preassembled slide units, DryLin N micro slides and DryLin S anodized aluminum shafting.
New Ball Screw and Guide Options for Tolomatic Actuator Series
March 23, 2011 by Miles Budimir
Filed under Ball / Lead Screws, Linear Actuators, Linear Guides
Hamel, Minn. - Tolomatic has expanded its new line of ERD electric rod-style actuators to make the line more flexible than ever before. Enhancements such as ball screws, motor mounts for NEMA and metric stepper and servo motors, plus a guide option, make it possible to employ ERD actuators in many more types of motion control applications. Originally designed as an affordable replacement for pneumatic cylinders, the ERD has become a very economical actuator solution for applications such as product changeovers, pick-and-place, sorting and diverting, heat-staking and more. 
The addition of ball screw choices improves the force range of the ERD up to 200 lb. The combination of NEMA and metric motor mounts allows users to select their preferred brand of servo or stepper motor. All three sizes of the ERD are available with an optional external guide system that prevents rod deflection and rotation during operation. The guide also features a tooling plate for mounting hardware.
Expanded Miniature Capability
February 1, 2011 by Heather Brown
Filed under Ball Slides, Industry News, Linear Guides
PBC Linear is announcing an expanded miniature rail portfolio that includes new, ball-type products along with their proven Frelon self-lubricating plain bearing linear guides and driven stages. The end result is a complete new line of miniature linear motion technology that includes:
->Frelon plain bearing linear guides available in 5 sizes from 7mm – 20 mm
->Miniature ball-type linear guides as small as 3mm Lead screw driven miniature actuators from both technologies
This expanded miniature portfolio is available as a result of cooperation with Chieftek Precision Co, LTD (CPC), a global leader in small profile ball-guided technology. This new arrangement will facilitate collaborative new product designs; such as precise, lead-screw driven linear actuators from both triboligical bearing technologies to fit into the compact space of the miniature industry. The strategic basis of the cooperation is built on multiple elements; including:
->Application of each company’s core technologies and tribology expertise to accelerate new product development
->Enhanced sales coverage based upon PBC’s strong position in the America’s and CPC’s position in Southeast Asia
->Opportunities to leverage each other’s regional manufacturing and logistics infrastructure to enhance Global responsiveness
PBC Linear
www.pbclinear.com
Thomson introduces 400 Series Profile Rail Linear Guides
November 9, 2010 by admin
Filed under Ball Slides, Featured, Linear Guides, Linear Slides
Thomson introduces 400 Series Profile Rail Linear Guides. The 400 Series is available in 4 meter lengths, in sizes from 15 – 45 mm in 5 mm increments, for extended joint-free rail transfer, even in smaller-sized applications. Double-faced ball track bearing arrangements allow for compliance to simplify installation, and enable equal load carrying capacity in all directions. The 400 Series is available with standard or ball cage carriages that use the same rail design.
400 Series Profile Rail Linear Guides are rated to handle loads ranging from 9800 N up to 129,500 N. They feature a polymer ball-return tube that reduces noise while retaining lubrication. The ball cage option includes individual ball lubricant reservoirs to increase running smoothness and operating life, while reducing noise by up to 30% when compared with standard carriages, even at high speeds.
400 Series Profile Rail Linear Guides are an ideal linear motion solution for uncomplicated factory and laboratory automation, packaging, food and beverage, life science and certain medical applications. With an industry standard envelope and hole patterns, they are completely interchangeable with other profile rail systems and are well-suited as a drop-in replacement. And for higher precision mounting and more compliant system requirements in machine tool, forming, and many other applications with demanding linear motion requirements, the company’s time-tested and field-proven 500 Series Profile Rail Linear Guides are an ideal solution.
Thomson
www.thomsonlinear.com
Pharmacy Sorting Robot Glides with Redi-Rail Linear Guides
September 16, 2009 by admin
Filed under Linear Guides
Rockford, IL – Pharmaceutical automation cuts dispensing costs, ensures accuracy and increases thru-put, allowing pharmacies to recover their investment, ensure quality and lower costs to consumers. PBC Linear’s Redi-Rail® linear guide was installed as a replacement positioning system for Manchac Technologies’ fully automated pharmaceutical robot, the Dosis L60. Chosen for its precision linear guidance, sealed bearings and oil impregnated wipers, Redi-Rail® ensures smooth, quiet and reliable travel. This allowed the Dosis L60 to fill, seal and label 30 day prescription cards.
Manchac Technologies provides accurate and immediate prescription sample dispensing. Delivered in a compact footprint (7 ft²), the Dosis L60 system sorts, counts, fills and labels 60 different oral medications for pharmaceutical use without user intervention. Originally this was accomplished using contact trucks and rails assembled into an XY gantry. However, the contact rails would experience periodic binding and system failure due to misalignment and vibration. This would cause severe downtime and skyrocketing repair costs—particularly if the system was out in the field. Lubrication was also periodically applied, but due to the environment and the sensitive prescriptions being handled, the required amount of lubrications was too messy and posed a risk of possible contamination of the prescriptions. Finally, Manchac decided to search for a more apt linear guide product.
The Dosis L60 functions in a controlled environment to protect the prescriptions and run correctly. Pill dust frequently builds up inside the machine and can be corrosive to certain materials. Therefore,
Manchac required a precision linear guide system to glide over accumulated particulate and consistently perform all automated tasks.
PBC Linear’s Redi-Rail® linear guides were the answer. Its reasonable price, sealed bearings, corrosion resistance and oil impregnated wipers made it a very attractive candidate. Redi-Rail® uses a post-processed, anodized aluminum extrusion with hardened stainless steel inner raceways to assure rigidity and precision. The rails are composed of anodized aluminum to provide light weight without losing strength. Redi-Rail’s high accuracy pre-loaded sliders utilize precision-ground, double-row ball bearing gothic rollers for fast (10 m/s) operation, high system rigidity and quiet linear motion. The sealed bearings also roll smoothly over accumulated particulate and restrict further contamination. Additionally, oil impregnated wipers allow for timely and clean lubrication along the rail.
After installed, Manchac noticed immediate improvement in the performance of the Dosis L60. Initial testing showed a 20-30% decrease in motor current required for operation. Redi-Rail also allowed for higher travel velocities without chatter or binding. The installation process was also simplified with Redi-Rail®, supplying high accurate mounting without the threat of misalignment.
PBC Linear
CRT.pbclinear.com
High Temperature SBC Linear Rail System
July 10, 2009 by Miles Budimir
Filed under Linear Guides
The Precision Alliance’s Linear Rail Systems are designed for high temperature applications that require performance at temperatures up to 250oC. The linear rail bearing components are made from bearing grade steel with all other internal components made from high temperature metals. There are no plastic components.
The systems are available with Raydent or Thin Dense Nickel Chrome corrosion resistant plating on all bearing surfaces. The internal components are pre-lubricated with high temperature grease that won’t “drip” as the temperature rises.
The product range spans from size 15 to 65 and can directly interchange with most linear rail systems on the market.
The Precision Alliance
www.tpa-us.com
Take the Wheel: Exploring the Possibilities of Guide Wheel Systems
March 11, 2009 by Editor
Filed under Linear Guides
by Dan Fletcher, Applications Engineer, Bishop-Wisecarver Corporation
After more than 40 years of use in thousands of applications ranging from the saw mill to the clean room, and from light to heavy loads, guide wheels have proven features that meet performance, durability, and cost requirements in a variety of demanding conditions.
Linear guide systems are chosen for an application based partly on their precision and speed, but also on a host of other operating conditions such as environment, length, duty cycle, and temperature, to name a few. One type of linear motion system that should not be overlooked is guide wheel systems; in many applications and environments they have significant advantages.
Guide wheels operate in a variety of environments. Most notable for their ability to outperform re-circulating ball technology in harsh environments due to their contained ball circuits, they also have other less known advantages. Applications with noise level requirements can benefit from decibel level reductions by as much as 20% compared to other re-circulating ball technologies. This can be a critical design advantage in medical equipment such as magnetic resonance imaging and scanning equipment.
The guide wheels’ smooth motion is a result of several features: a constant radius ball bearing path; the use of carbon, stainless steel, and composite components; and the antifriction double-row angular-contact bearings. The steel versions permit fast acceleration (up to 5 gs) and high speeds (up to 5.5 m/s), while composite polymer versions provide an economical choice for low noise, smooth motion, chemical environments, and light load applications.
New Thomson Selection Guide Now Available
January 28, 2009 by Miles Budimir
Filed under Linear Bearings, Linear Guides
Metric Super Ball Bushing bearings are precision bearings with a coefficient of friction as low as 0.001 that allows users to employ smaller and less expensive motors, belts, gears and ball screws when replacing high friction, plain bearings.
Stainless Steel MultiTrac Ball Bushing bearings are built to thrive in harsh environments with temperatures up to 180ºF (82ºC), and feature a patented multiple track design that delivers up to twice the load carrying capacity, or 8 times the operating life, of conventional linear bearings.
Stainless Steel “A” Ball Bushing bearings feature all steel construction for rust and corrosion resistance, while providing maximum system rigidity in the most challenging application environments, including vacuum, ozone and mild radiation, even in temperatures up to 600ºF (315ºC).
