Linear ball and roller bearings can be broadly divided into two categories—recirculating and non-recirculating—depending on whether or not the rolling elements actually flow (or circulate) through the bearing housing. In order to understand what a recirculating linear bearing is, let’s first take a look at bearings that don’t recirculate. Non-recirculating linear bearings Non-recirculating bearings have […]
What is L10 life and why does it matter?
One of the fundamental steps in selecting a recirculating linear bearing, whether profiled rail or round shaft type, is to calculate the bearing life. But how is this calculation derived, and what does it mean in the “real world?” Bearing life for recirculating linear bearings, often referred to as the L10 life, is a method […]
mk North America launches two new modular plastic belt conveyors
mk North America, an industry leader in the design and manufacture of industrial conveyor solutions, is announcing the launch of two new modular plastic belt conveyor systems, the KMF-P 2040 and KFM-P 2040. Designed to complement a variety of industrial applications with the utmost flexibility and functionality, these systems are made with mk’s patented aluminum extrusion […]
8 commonly misused engineering terms explained
While much of the terminology in engineering and automation is standardized, some words are still widely misused, especially when different terms apply to similar principles. And the fact that a term may have different meanings in different disciplines (i.e. physics vs. engineering) makes it difficult to know which word is the most accurate and appropriate for a […]
7 Twitter accounts that make science fun!
It’s probably safe to say that those of you who follow this site (myself included) are science geeks. Whether it’s archaeology, astronomy, or biology, we’re fascinated by the latest discoveries across all realms of science and technology. And for staying on top of these developments, there’s no better platform than Twitter. Most leading scientists and […]
ETEL expands linear motor line
As engineers expand their range of machines to a point where a larger payload is required, an upgrade of their linear motors may be necessary. So, to make their design process easier, ETEL has added extra ironcore linear motor lengths to each of their different widths. These new lengths are compatible with existing 50, 70, […]
Servo motor or stepper motor? How to choose
The overwhelming majority of linear motion applications (with the exception of pneumatically-driven types) use either a stepper motor or a servo motor to provide torque to the driving mechanism, which is typically a ball or lead screw, rack and pinion, or belt and pulley system. And unlike other components involved in linear motion, when choosing a motor, […]
Linear actuators: belt driven vs. rack and pinion driven
Belts and rack and pinions have several common benefits for linear motion applications. They’re both well-established drive mechanisms in linear actuators, providing high-speed travel over extremely long lengths. And both are frequently used in large gantry systems for material handling, machining, welding and assembly, especially in the automotive, machine tool, and packaging industries. Timing belts for linear […]
New Profile Rail Linear Recirculating Bearings from Lintech
Lintech’s MR, ARC, and HRC Profile Rail Linear Recirculating Bearings incorporate two or four rows of recirculating balls arranged in a 45 degree contact angle with the raceway. The rigidity under moment and torsional loads is increased by this design. Larger ball size is used to enhance the load capabilities. This design offers equal loading in all […]
How to estimate your linear actuator needs with minimal application data
Choosing linear motion components during the development phase of a project has been a source of frustration for designers and application engineers for decades—especially when it comes to complex subassemblies such as linear actuators. Consider for a moment the influence that a linear actuator has on the overall machine design. First of all, in an actuator, […]