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Linear Motion Tips

Covering Linear Motion Systems, Components and Linear Motion Resources

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Linear bearings

What is curvilinear motion and when is it used?

★ By Danielle Collins 1 Comment

curvilinear motion

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 […]

Filed Under: Applications, Ball + roller guides, FAQs + basics, Featured, Linear bearings, Plastic + composite guides, Track roller (cam + wheel) guides

Linear motion trends in slides: Robotics and mobile designs lead the charge

★ By Lisa Eitel Leave a Comment

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 […]

Filed Under: Applications, Ball + roller guides, Crossed-roller slides, Featured, Linear bearings, Plastic + composite guides, Slides + guides (all), Track roller (cam + wheel) guides Tagged With: igus, pbclinear

One-piece ETX linear bearing/pillow blocks suitable for use in radioactive environments

★ By Miles Budimir Leave a Comment

pillow block

LM76 now offers one piece ETX Linear Bearing/Pillow Blocks that will not degrade in a radioactive environment. Machined from a solid block of self-lubricating ETX, linear bearing blocks have high strength, excellent wear resistance, low coefficient of friction, and excellent dimensional stability at higher temperatures. Custom designed for use in a nuclear power plant these […]

Filed Under: Linear bearings, Slides + guides (all) Tagged With: linear bearing

Selecting shafts for linear bearings: two things you need to know

★ By Danielle Collins 1 Comment

shafts

In a round shaft linear bearing system, the shaft acts as the inner raceway of the bearing and plays a significant role in the wear and life of the system.  Both recirculating and plain linear bearings as well as track-roller wheel-based linear bearings can use a wide variety of shaft materials, depending on the application […]

Filed Under: Applications, Ball + roller guides, FAQs + basics, Featured, Linear bearings, Plastic + composite guides

How do roller pillow blocks compare with traditional round shaft bearings?

★ By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

roller pillow blocks

Round shaft guides are typically used with plain (composite, plastic, or bronze) or recirculating ball style linear bearings. But another type of round shaft bearing — referred to as a roller block or roller pillow block — offers better stiffness than plain bearings and higher speed capabilities than recirculating ball types. Instead of balls, a […]

Filed Under: FAQs + basics, Featured, Linear bearings, Track roller (cam + wheel) guides

Beam deflection equations for linear systems

★ By Danielle Collins 1 Comment

beam deflection equations

When a linear guide, such as a round shaft or profiled rail, deflects or sags, the bearings that travel along the guide experience edge loading (a higher load concentrated at the ends of the bearing), which can cause rough, irregular movement, increased wear, and reduced bearing life. And when a linear guide is incorporated into […]

Filed Under: Applications, Ball + leadscrew driven, Ball + roller guides, Belt + chain driven, FAQs + basics, Featured, Linear bearings, Plastic + composite guides

What benefits do dovetail slides offer versus other linear bearing types?

★ By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

dovetail slides

Dovetail slides are a type of plain linear bearing — along with boxway slides and plain bushings made of plastic, composite, or bronze — that rely on direct contact between sliding surfaces to support a load. These differ from modern rolling element linear bearings, which use balls or rollers to reduce friction between the load-bearing […]

Filed Under: FAQs + basics, Featured, Linear bearings, Slides + guides (all)

Case-hardened tapped or threaded shafts, ready to ship

★ By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

case-hardened shafts

Made in the U.S.A., NB’s shafts are never annealed, so outer diameters are ultra precise — tolerances are always reliable. Tapped shafts can be ordered with one or both ends tapped, in either case-hardened carbon steel or stainless steel. Threaded shafts can be ordered with one or both ends threaded, in case-hardened carbon steel. Diameters […]

Filed Under: Ball + roller guides, Industry news, Linear bearings

What’s the difference between dynamic load capacity and static load capacity?

★ By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

dynamic load capacity

Rolling element linear bearings, such as round shafts and bushings, profiled rail guides, crossed roller slides, and even ball screws, have two load capacity specifications — dynamic load capacity and static load capacity — which are based on different operating parameters and performance criteria and are independent of each other. To accurately size and select a […]

Filed Under: Applications, Ball + lead + roller screws, Ball + roller guides, Crossed-roller slides, FAQs + basics, Linear bearings

New bearing from igus assists in quick, easy liner replacement

★ By Miles Budimir Leave a Comment

linear bearing

igus has introduced a new bearing, drylin W Exchange, for its drylin W linear system in which the liner can be replaced directly on the rail without dismantling the system. By using a practical assembly tool, users can push the old liner out of the housing, clip the new one on to the shaft and […]

Filed Under: Linear bearings, Slides + guides (all) Tagged With: igus, linear bearing

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