When designing and configuring an automated warehouse, one design goal is to keep the system as light and compact as possible. Depending on the size of the load being moved, there are two common types of automated warehouses. In lighter applications, aluminum structures can handle loads up to 100 kilograms, while steel structures are good […]
Ball + roller guides
IKO MX series of linear roller bearings — now more standard variations
IKO Intl. now offers more variations in its standard MX series of linear roller bearings to include special features for environments that are sensitive to metal chips, dust, and other contaminants. High load capacity. The MX models utilize rows of cylindrical rollers to provide a greater contact area than slides that use steel balls. They […]
IKO MX series linear roller bearings now include dust protection
IKO International is building on its standard MX series of linear roller bearings to include special features for environments that are sensitive to metal chips, dust, and other contaminants. Dust protection A dust protective C-Wiper can be mounted to the outside of the end seal, ensuring operation in environments where metal chips are spattering. After […]
Linear actuator designs for vertical lifts: How to size a jack?
Linear actuator designs for vertical lifts often take the form of worm screw jacks. There are several criteria by which a worm screw jack can be sized properly — six primary factors, to be exact. First is the basic tonnage rating of the jack. This is simply the overall capacity that a jack can handle […]
Precise, rigid, high load Slide Guides from NB
SGL Slide Guides from NB Corporation are high-precision, high-rigidity, high load capacity linear bearings with low friction, non-stick or slip mechanisms that provide smooth linear motion even under high loads. SGL Slide Guides are available in lengths from 160 mm to 3000 mm. Six types of blocks are available depending on the mounting space and […]
What limits linear bearing speed? (Part 1)
High-speed motion is a requirement for applications where throughput is a critical factor, such as packaging and electronic assembly. These systems typically use linear motors or steel reinforced belt drives in conjunction with recirculating linear bearing guides for good stiffness and high load capacity. But the speeds demanded by these applications can pose a challenge […]
Environmental challenges for linear bearings, and how to address them
“Environment” is a difficult parameter to quantify when selecting recirculating linear bearings or ball screws. Unlike load, stroke, or speed, there are no programs or calculations that help you choose the right bearing based on environmental factors. But environmental conditions can have a big impact on the performance of linear bearings and ball screws. Because these components operate […]
New line of Precision Torque Splines from Helix Linear (and PDF catalog detailing options)
Helix Linear has just released its new line of Precision Torque Splines. A new catalog detailing the offerings is available as a PDF for download. Download the free catalog here. Helix Linear Precision Torque™ Splines are a convenient and efficient device that outputs low-friction motion while transmitting torque. In a Helix PT Spline assembly, a high-strength composite polymer bushing carries […]
What happens when a bearing reaches the end of its life?
Determining the expected life a recirculating ball or roller bearing is fairly straightforward when the applied loads and duty cycle are known. Just use the bearing life equation: for recirculating ball bearings OR for recirculating roller bearings Where: L = bearing life C = bearing dynamic load capacity F = applied dynamic load These equations give the […]
Telescoping slides: Extending the reach of linear guides
Traditional round shaft and profiled rail linear guides can be joined in sections to provide virtually unlimited travel. But some applications require a linear guide that can extend into and retract out of the work area, and with profiled rail and round shaft guides, there’s not a simple, easy way to do this. For these […]
