You might be familiar with rotary needle roller bearings (often referred to as simply “needle roller bearings”), which are used extensively in automotive and industrial power transmission applications due to their compact size and high load-carrying capability. But did you know that some linear bearings also use needle rollers? For linear bearings, needle rollers were […]
When to use linear bearings and ball nuts with ceramic balls
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 […]
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 […]
THK America’s Ohio plant and MVPvets sponsorship highlight commitment to U.S.
THK America Inc. is committed to serving the U.S. market. For nearly 25 years, the leader in linear-motion guides has been manufacturing components in the United States at their Hebron, Ohio facility. This year, the manufacturer joined forces with MVPvets in assisting, preparing and transitioning military veterans for meaningful employment. More than 70% of THK […]
Why use linear guides and ball screws with ball chains?
One of the differences between radial ball bearings and recirculating ball linear guides has historically been that radial bearings typically use a cage to separate the balls and control their movement, whereas profiled rail guides did not. But in the early 2000’s, manufacturers of profiled rail bearings began introducing versions with ball cages (also referred […]
Linear motion trends in slides: Robotics and mobile designs lead the charge
Demand for simple-to-install and pre-integrated linear-slide systems continues unabated … especially in applications only recently automated. Here’s the perspective of Matt Mowry, North American market manager for drylin products at igus: “We’ve supplied fully assembled and customized linear-slide tables … complete with motors and accessories. We’ve also supplied custom-extruded linear profiles and bearing liners to […]
Follow these four tips when using L10 life to size linear bearings
The well-known bearing life equation, often referred to as L10 life, is a fundamental element in the sizing and selection of recirculating linear bearings. Through statistical analysis and real-world testing, the L10 life equation can predict, with 90 percent reliability, the life that a recirculating bearing can be expected to achieve. But even this universally […]
Rotary ball splines ensure sub-millimeter accuracy
The NB rotary ball spline has a cylindrical nut that rolls on the ball spline shaft. Rotary ball splines can be used for both rotational motion and linear motion, providing sub-millimeter accuracy every time. Popular applications include SCARA robots, the vertical shaft of assembly equipment, automatic tool changers, and loaders. A ball spline’s forte is […]
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