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Linear Motion Tips

Covering Linear Motion Systems, Components and Linear Motion Resources

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Danielle Collins

What’s the difference between a ball screw spline and a traditional ball screw?

October 1, 2020 By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

ball screw spline

A ball screw spline is a combination of two components — a ball screw and a rotary ball spline. By combining a driving element (the ball screw) and a guiding element (the rotary ball spline), a ball screw spline can provide both linear and rotary motion, as well as spiral motion, in a highly rigid, […]

Filed Under: Ball + lead + roller screws, Ball + leadscrew driven, Ball + roller guides, FAQs + basics, Featured

How to make sure you get the right linear bushing interchange

September 22, 2020 By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

Linear ball bushings are one of the few interchangeable product types in linear motion, with industry-standard sizes and styles, so that a product from one manufacturer can often be substituted with a product from another manufacturer that has very similar dimensions and technical specifications. And most linear bushing manufacturers offer several product lines that are […]

Filed Under: Applications, Ball + roller guides, FAQs + basics, Featured, Linear bearings

Tips for mounting linear ball bearings: Pillow block housings

September 11, 2020 By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

Linear ball bearings and round shafts are often used in applications that call for ease of use and simple mounting requirements. For example, where profiled rail guides require full support along their length, linear ball bearings, or bushings, can be used in many applications with shafts that are supported only at their ends. However, unlike […]

Filed Under: Ball + roller guides, FAQs + basics, Featured, Linear bearings

Just for fun (and safety): Pandemic-inspired inventions

September 7, 2020 By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

Necessity is the mother of invention, as the saying goes. And so has been the case since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although much of the focus on product development and innovation since the pandemic began has been centered around treatment and critical care technologies such as ventilators, some of these pandemic-inspired inventions are […]

Filed Under: Featured

How to protect ball screws in harsh environments

August 28, 2020 By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

Harsh environments can wreak havoc on motion system components — especially rolling element systems such as linear guides and ball screws. And while protective devices such as rail covers, wipers, and scrapers are widely available for linear guides, protecting ball screws in harsh environments is a bit more tricky. But despite being more difficult to […]

Filed Under: Applications, Ball + lead + roller screws, FAQs + basics, Featured

What is a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT)?

August 19, 2020 By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

LVDT

In previous articles, we’ve covered a variety of technologies for measuring linear position: magnetic and optical encoders, magnetostrictive sensors, and even measuring systems integrated into linear guide systems. Another technology for measuring absolute linear position is the linear variable differential transformer (LVDT). A linear variable differential transformer is an induction-based measuring system that consists of […]

Filed Under: Encoders + sensors (linear) + I/O, FAQs + basics, Featured

What are fixed and floating bearings in the context of linear motion?

August 7, 2020 By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

fixed and floating bearings

There are two instances when the terms “fixed bearing” and “floating bearing” are used in linear motion: to describe the support bearings used on ball and lead screws, and to describe linear guides mounted in parallel. And while the meanings of the terms are the same in both situations, their applications are different in each […]

Filed Under: Applications, Ball + lead + roller screws, Ball + roller guides, FAQs + basics, Featured, Linear bearings, Plastic + composite guides, Track roller (cam + wheel) guides

What are planar motors and where are they used?

July 30, 2020 By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

planar motors

Linear motors are often described as rotary motors cut open and rolled out flat, so they produce motion in a straight line along one axis. Their construction is relatively simple, with a primary part (also referred to as a forcer) that contains windings, and a secondary part that contains magnets. The primary part is typically […]

Filed Under: FAQs + basics, Featured, Stages + gantries

What are boxway slides and where are they used?

July 10, 2020 By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

boxway

Recirculating linear guides get significant media attention, thanks to their versatility and wide range of uses. But linear guides based on sliding contact — namely boxway and dovetail slides — are often the bearings of choice for applications that call for high load capacity, extreme stiffness, and excellent vibration damping characteristics. Boxway slides are a type […]

Filed Under: FAQs + basics, Featured, Slides + guides (all)

Three important design considerations for Cartesian robots

July 3, 2020 By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

Cartesian robots

If your application calls for a Cartesian robot, you have a wide variety of options, depending on the level of  integration you want to undertake. And although pre-engineered Cartesian robots are becoming more widely adopted as manufacturers expand their product ranges to fit a broader scope of performance criteria, some applications still necessitate building your own […]

Filed Under: Applications, FAQs + basics, Featured, Integrated Linear Systems

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