There are two load capacity specifications for recirculating linear guides and ball screws—static load capacity and dynamic load capacity. Most engineers are familiar with dynamic load capacity, since this is the value used to calculate bearing life. But it’s also important to consider the component’s static load capacity in order to avoid premature bearing failure. Here’s a […]
Ball + roller guides
Round shaft or profiled rail for linear motion? How to choose
Updated May 2019 || When designing a linear motion system, engineers have two primary choices in recirculating linear guides — round shaft or profiled rail. Choosing the wrong linear motion system can be a costly mistake, resulting in design or structural changes, poor machine performance, or oversized components with higher costs. Although both round shafts and […]
Don’t ignore these three things when mounting linear guides
Linear rail guides are designed for applications that call for precise motion with high load-bearing capability. But improper mounting can add unnecessary loads, reduce life, and undermine the inherent travel accuracy of the linear guide system. Understanding and following the three mounting specifications described below will help ensure your installation achieves the desired accuracy and doesn’t succumb […]
On the straight and narrow
by Mark Huebner, PBC Linear Minimize corrosion and maximize the life of linear roller bearing systems by following a few simple guidelines on lubrication. Linear roller bearing systems offer distinct advantages in applications requiring high speed or quick change of direction. Because their diameter is larger, they also perform well in contaminated environments where they […]
Caged ball profile rails for linear guidance
Nook Industries introduces a caged ball profile rail for linear guidance. Caged ball chains provide reduced friction, lower noise levels and prevent the bearings from making incidental contact. Nook’s new line improves on more traditional designs with lubrication advantages, a reinforcement plate and an overall dustproof design. The lubrication design adds no additional length to the […]
Breaking down linear bearing construction
As with most complex products or systems, specifying and applying profiled rail bearings doesn’t require that you know every detail of linear bearing construction. But having a basic understanding of the various design types and geometries can help you choose a product that enhances, rather than detracts from, the performance of your machine—especially in applications that […]
Tips for selecting and applying telescoping linear bearings
Profiled rail and round shaft linear bearings are ideal for applications that require long stroke lengths in a fixed footprint. But if the design calls for a bearing that can retract to move away from the process or to allow access to a working area, a fixed rail or shaft won’t do. In these applications, […]
Nook Industries offers caged ball profiled rails for linear guidance
Nook Industries, a leading innovator of linear motion components and systems, introduces caged ball profile rails for linear guidance. Caged ball chains provide reduced friction and lower noise levels and prevent the bearings from making incidental contact. An industry leader for more than 40 years, Nook’s new line improves on more traditional designs with lubrication advantages, […]
Miniature linear ball rails from Nook Industries for high-speed running capacity
Nook Industries, a leading innovator of linear motion components and systems, has launched a new miniature linear ball rail ideally suited for high-speed, belt-driven mechanisms and carrier designs as well as automation linkage between stations. Offered in three accuracy grades, Precision (P), High (H) and Normal (N), these miniature linear ball rails provide significant maintenance […]
Ball Chains: Two things you might not know
Radial bearings have used ball cages for nearly a century, but this technology was only introduced to profiled rail guides within the last two decades. THK pioneered the way, launching its Caged Ball® LM Guide in 1996, and other profiled rail manufacturers soon followed suit with ball chain and ball spacer designs. Now, virtually every style […]
