A linear ball bushing riding on a round shaft is often compared to a radial ball bearing, with the bushing acting as the outer race of the bearing and the shaft acting as the inner race. But in linear bushing assemblies, the surfaces of both the ball and the shaft are spherical, so contact between […]
Linear bearings
How to make sure you get the right linear bushing interchange
Linear ball bushings are one of the few interchangeable product types in linear motion, with industry-standard sizes and styles, so that a product from one manufacturer can often be substituted with a product from another manufacturer that has very similar dimensions and technical specifications. And most linear bushing manufacturers offer several product lines that are […]
Tips for mounting linear ball bearings: Pillow block housings
Linear ball bearings and round shafts are often used in applications that call for ease of use and simple mounting requirements. For example, where profiled rail guides require full support along their length, linear ball bearings, or bushings, can be used in many applications with shafts that are supported only at their ends. However, unlike […]
What to consider when specifying a linear slide
Here are some considerations when specifying a linear slide for a new or existing application. By Mike Quinn • LM76 When a design engineer has fully defined a linear-motion application’s requirements regarding travel length, speed, force, and accuracy as well as repeatability, the next question to answer is this: Does an off-the-shelf linear slide (or […]
What are fixed and floating bearings in the context of linear motion?
There are two instances when the terms “fixed bearing” and “floating bearing” are used in linear motion: to describe the support bearings used on ball and lead screws, and to describe linear guides mounted in parallel. And while the meanings of the terms are the same in both situations, their applications are different in each […]
FDA-compliant off-the-shelf linear motion components for urgently needed medical products
In dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic many companies have volunteered or been requested to produce urgently needed medical products such as masks, gowns, and ventilators. Tooling up quickly to produce medical grade products for some companies can bring challenges. In addition to needing FDA-compliant materials that will be used in the actual masks, gowns, and […]
What makes a linear guide suitable for high temperature use?
For most recirculating ball and roller linear guides, the allowable operating temperature range is -10° to 80° C, with some configurations rated up to 100° C for brief periods. But not all applications fall within this temperature range, and each component in the linear bearing assembly (housing, rail, balls, seals, etc.) has a different maximum […]
New Compact Linear Bushing (CLB) from Samick
The new Compact Linear Bushing (CLB) by SAMICK, a specialist in linear bearings, is gaining popularity in the market as the company expands its product offering for customers. SAMICK’s CLB is a linear ball bearing that conforms to the ISO 10285 standard, providing customers with a low-cost, compact design for easy integration into new or […]
Thomson introduces online quote tool for customized 60 Case shafting and hardened pins
Thomson Industries, Inc., a leading manufacturer of linear motion control solutions, has introduced an online instant quote tool that helps design engineers save time during the selection and purchase process of its customized 60 Case shafting. By providing real-time pricing and instant access to lead times for chosen products, Thomson’s intuitive, self-service tool allows designers […]
Mechanical properties of materials: stiffness and deflection
In a previous post, we looked at the stress-strain curve and its relationship to various aspects of material strength — tensile strength, yield strength, and fracture mechanics strength, for example. And while we often think of materials and structures in terms of strength, technically, “strength” is a measure of how much force a material can […]
