• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Linear Motion Tips

Covering Linear Motion Systems, Components and Linear Motion Resources

  • News
    • Editor’s blog
    • Industry news
    • Motion Casebook
  • Applications
  • Slides + guides
    • Ball + roller guides
    • Track roller (cam + wheel) guides
    • Crossed-roller slides
    • Linear bearings
    • Plastic + composite guides
  • Drives
    • Ball + lead + roller screws
    • Belt + chain drives for linear
    • Rack + pinion sets
  • Actuators
    • Ball + leadscrew driven
    • Belt + chain driven
    • Linear motors
    • Mini + piezo + voice coil
    • Rack + pinion driven
    • Rigid-chain actuators
  • Encoders + sensors (linear) + I/O
  • Stages + gantries
  • Resources
    • Suppliers
    • Video

Linear drives (all)

How to calculate duty cycle and what it means for machine life

★ By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

linear rails

Determining the life of a linear system that uses balls or rollers is relatively straightforward, thanks to the L10 bearing life equation, which gives life in meters of travel (for linear bearings) or revolutions (for screws). And for plain bearings and lead screws, manufacturers typically use the bearing’s PV value and operating conditions to provide an […]

Filed Under: Applications, Ball + lead + roller screws, FAQs + basics, Featured, Slides + guides (all)

Screw drives see new uses in robotics, other applications

★ By Miles Budimir Leave a Comment

ball screws

Some of the surest, time-tested methods of linear actuation are screw drives. Whether lead- or ball- or roller screws, screw actuation remains a large part of the linear actuation equation, thanks to their reliability, accuracy, and relative simplicity of operation. Recently screw drive developments have included advances in materials as well as manufacturing methods leading […]

Filed Under: Ball + lead + roller screws, Ball + leadscrew driven, Featured, Linear actuators (all), Linear drives (all) Tagged With: dynatect, thomson

Part 2 of 2: Electric actuators as an alternative to hydraulic cylinders

★ By Lisa Eitel Leave a Comment

Here we offer some tips for converting a fluid-power-driven axis to electrical actuation. By Ryan Klemetson • Business Development Manager | Tolomatic, Inc. As explained in Part 1 of this article series on motioncontroltips.com, hydraulic systems offer long service life, but they’re not as efficient as electric systems. Electric systems also provide precise position, velocity, […]

Filed Under: Ball + lead + roller screws, Ball + leadscrew driven, Featured, Linear actuators (all) Tagged With: tolomatic

What is an inverted roller screw and how does it work?

★ By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

inverted roller screw

Roller screws are often thought of as the standard planetary design, but several variations exist, including differential, recirculating, and inverted versions. Each design offers unique benefits in performance capabilities — load capacity, torque, and positioning — but the inverted roller screw’s primary strength is its ability to be easily integrated into actuators and other subassemblies. Recall that […]

Filed Under: Ball + lead + roller screws, Ball + leadscrew driven, FAQs + basics, Featured, Linear actuators (all)

Linear bearing basics: Surface roughness, texture, and finish

★ By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

surface texture and roughness

One of the factors to consider when selecting shafts for linear bearings is surface roughness, which describes the microscopic asperities, or peaks, and valleys present on a material’s surface. But surface roughness is an important specification for all types of linear guides and screws — whether plain or recirculating, round shaft or profiled rail, ball […]

Filed Under: Applications, Ball + lead + roller screws, FAQs + basics, Featured, Slides + guides (all)

Screw handedness: When do you need a left-handed screw?

★ By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

screw handedness

Just like people, ball and lead screws can be either right-handed or left-handed. But in screw terminology, handedness indicates the direction in which the nut moves relative to the direction of the screw’s rotation. By far the most common version is the right-handed screw, in which the nut moves toward you when the screw is […]

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

Troubleshooting V-belt wear and failure

★ By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

Broken V-belt

Although there are more than a dozen symptoms of premature wear and impending failure for V-belts — ranging from visible damage to audible noise — there are a few key ways that these friction-based belts can fail during operation. To help users determine the root cause of a failure or signs of potential failure, V-belt […]

Filed Under: Belt + chain drives for linear, FAQs + basics, Featured

When are stepper motors paired with ball screws (rather than lead screws)?

★ By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

Stepper motors are widely used in industrial and consumer applications ranging from packaging equipment and medical devices to 3D printers and vending machines. They have excellent torque production at (relatively) low speeds — especially for a given motor size — and offer high-resolution positioning in a simple-to-use format. These benefits make them well-suited to drive lead […]

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

What do the belt section designations H, J, K, L, and M mean for ribbed V-belts?

★ By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

ribbed v-belt

V-belts rely on friction caused by the “wedging” of the belt between pulley flanges — together with internal fiber cords — to transmit power in a wide range of industrial and consumer-goods applications. One variation of the traditional V-belt is the ribbed V-belt — also referred to as a V-ribbed, poly V, or serpentine belt. Ribbed V-belts take […]

Filed Under: Belt + chain drives for linear, FAQs + basics, Featured

Causes of tooth shear in synchronous belts, and how to avoid it

★ By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

synchronous belt failures

Synchronous belts transmit power via positive engagement between belt teeth and pulley grooves, making them suitable for applications that require high torque and making them less prone than traditional V-belts to slip in dynamic applications. But even synchronous belts can experience failure if they’re not installed, maintained, and applied properly. One way that toothed belts […]

Filed Under: Applications, Belt + chain driven, Belt + chain drives for linear, FAQs + basics, Featured

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Page 4
  • Page 5
  • Page 6
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 42
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

LEARNING CENTER

Design World Learning Center
“lmt
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for Design Engineering Professionals.
“linear

RSS Motion Control Tips

  • Allient expands its Allied Motion SA Axial Flux Motor series
  • PICMA Plus piezo actuators offer extended displacement range
  • New motors, gearhead, and encoders with 16-mm diameter from FAULHABER
  • SSEAC subsea actuator provides precise flow control on the seabed
  • Using motion controls in autonomous robotics

RSS Featured White Papers

  • Robotic Automation is Indispensable for the Logistics Industry’s Continued Growth and Success
  • Reliable Linear Motion For Packaging Machines
  • Technical Brief – “Understanding the Extensive Benefits of Total Linear Positioning Systems.”

Footer

Linear Motion Tips

Design World Network

Design World Online
The Robot Report
Coupling Tips
Motion Control Tips
Bearing Tips
Fastener Engineering
Wire and Cable Tips

Linear Motion Tips

Subscribe to our newsletter
Advertise with us
Contact us
About us

Copyright © 2025 · WTWH Media LLC and its licensors. All rights reserved.
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media.

Privacy Policy