Demands placed on linear systems in today’s automation are greater than ever — and continue to increase. Here we review five links in the chain of design elements so critical to precision operation. By Mark Huebner • Mechatronics global product manager | PBC Linear Kevin Bischel • Principal engineer | PBC Linear A linear motion […]
THK roller LM guide type HRX for myriad applications and harsh environments
A new Roller LM Guide Type HRX from THK America Inc. meets the demands of myriad applications and environments. The Type HRX boasts a duplex face-to-face structure (DF Structure) and a full roller design for resilient performance in even harsh settings. Features include a highly rigid, yet simple structure, caged rollers and an extensive dust […]
When to use linear bearings and ball nuts with ceramic balls
Ball nut preload: What effect does it have on bearing life?
Ball nut preload offers several benefits to screw assemblies, but the most common reason for using a preloaded ball nut is to reduce axial play, or backlash, caused by clearance between the screw and nut raceways. Reducing this axial play does two things. It improves the repeatability of the screw assembly — meaning the assembly […]
What is curvilinear motion and when is it used?
In single-axis motion systems, travel is typically either linear (in a straight line) or rotary (in a partial or complete circle). But some applications call for a system that combines straight sections of motion with curved sections — referred to as curvilinear motion. Curvilinear systems generally take one of two forms: simple, constant-radii sections (such as […]
Stepper motor performance: Is it possible to get high torque at high speeds?
The most notable stepper motor performance characteristics are precise positioning, good holding torque, and good low-speed torque characteristics. But in some cases, application parameters necessitate high torque production at high speeds, while design or control constraints dictate the use of a stepper motor. Although stepper motors aren’t notable for their ability to produce high torque […]
Pick-and-place applications with Festo tools — showing at Pack Expo
Festo offers software and hardware to shorten packaging-machine development time and reduce engineering overhead. These components, systems, and software tools will be on display at Pack Expo on September 23 to 25 at the Las Vegas Convention Center Booth LS-6349. Design a pick-and-place robot and control cabinet in minutes Festo demonstrates a Cartesian robot and […]
How to calculate maximum encoder speed for linear and rotary designs
When choosing an encoder for motion applications, a few specifications immediately come to mind. What sensing technology should you use? What accuracy and resolution do you need? Does the application require incremental or absolute position feedback? But one specification that is sometimes overlooked during sizing and selection is the maximum encoder speed. Like any electrical […]
What are Hertz contact stresses and how do they affect linear bearings?
Linear bearings that use balls or rollers to carry a load are subjected to Hertz contact stresses — a type of material stress that plays a significant role in determining the bearing’s load capacity and fatigue life. When two surfaces of different radii are in contact and a load is applied (even an extremely small load), […]
Bearing damage: What’s the difference between brinelling, spalling, and fretting?
Bearing damage, and ultimately, failure, can be caused by a variety of conditions, including improper mounting, poor lubrication, and overloading, to name a few. The mode of damage — what actually happened to the bearing as a result of detrimental conditions — is characterized by visible features, such as discoloration, wear marks, or pitting, on […]
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