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 […]
linear guide
When to use cam roller guides. (Hint: it’s more often than you think.)
With so many linear guide choices—from roller rails to plastic wheels—deciding which technology is right for your application can be difficult. On one hand, not every application requires machine tool rigidity and the ability to move a small car. But on the other hand, most applications require a guide that can withstand high duty cycles […]
High-class linear guides: How industry quantifies rail accuracy values
I once overheard a colleague, relatively new to linear motion and eager to be helpful, tell a customer, “H stands for our high-class rail.” While the thought of a “high-class” rail was amusing, technically she was correct. In profiled linear guide terminology, H is the designation for high class … … high accuracy class, that […]
Linear Motion in the Third Industrial Revolution
According to The Economist magazine, a third revolution is coming for the manufacturing industry, ushered in by 3D printing, new materials, and collaborative manufacturing services. Anyone who has watched the 3D printing industry develop over the past decade, or even the past five years, will likely agree. Gartner forecasts that worldwide shipments of 3D printers […]
We’ve Got You Covered: A Quick Guide to Platings and Coatings
Machine builders and end users have many factors to consider when choosing linear motion components and systems – travel length, speed, acceleration, positioning accuracy and repeatability, just to name a few. But sometimes the most challenging requirement isn’t a traditional application spec. It’s the environment that the system will be working in. Many industries have processes […]
How to calculate linear bearing life
When selecting linear guides, have you ever seen a disclaimer in the catalog or on the manufacturer’s website regarding dynamic load capacities? It typically reads something like this: Dynamic load capacities are based on 100,000 m of travel. When comparing to products for which load capacities are based on 50,000 m of travel, multiply the 100,000 m […]
PBC Linear’s Integral V™ Extends the Reach for Equipois zeroG™
Rockford, IL – Equipois, a mechanical design firm that provides ergonomic solutons, works tirelessly to reduce labor strain and improve efficiency in machine-tool applications. Their latest product, the zeroG™, allows for heavy machining tools (grinders, cutters, drills) to be suspended mid-air—providing easy access and operation while eliminating heavy-lifting! For one of their latest applications, Equipois […]
New Videos Explain Features and Benefits of Linear Guides
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. – igus® has two new videos highlighting the latest additions to its range of DryLin® W linear guide systems. The videos explain the features and benefits of the new products and demonstrate how they are assembled and how they operate. The most recently added video demonstrates how igus’ DryLin WJRM hybrid linear […]
Linear Motion Handbook from Rexroth
Hoffman Estates, Ill. – A new 350+ page Linear Motion Technology Handbook from Rexroth is an educational, engineering reference book on linear motion technology and its uses, offering everything from a review of basic principles to examples of practical applications. It deals extensively with all common types of linear motion guides, as well as ball […]
Ultra-low Profile Roller Guides
The RB series of ultra-low profile roller guides from NSK Precision America are designed to meet the rigorous demands of the machine tool industry. Compared with NSK’s conventional RA series roller guides, the series offers a 26% reduction in overall height, which helps downscale equipment and lower the center of gravity of precision/positioning tables. Optimizing […]
