Rail guides, linear guides
Highly precise linear guides for moving loads
How can loads be moved easily and precisely? This is a question that people have been attempting to solve for a long time. However, there are myriad requirements regarding motion sequences – as many as there are solutions. Linear movements (guiding, adjusting, positioning, ...) continue to be found in all machines to this day.
Design principle
Rail guides consist of a guide element (slide/guide carriage) and a guide profile (rail) which is equipped with a circulating ball bearing element. The X-arrangement of our rail guides ensure a reliable compensation of any occurring torsional loads.
Conventional or with special ball chain technology
In conventional linear guides, the ball bearings have point contact with each other when rotating. Via the contact between the ball bearings, there is the possibility of increased lubricant consumption and the resulting increased friction, noise, and heat generation.
In linear guides with a ball chain, the chain assumes the role of a cage. This keeps the ball bearings at a constant distance from each other and guides them in a controlled fashion in the circulating ball bearing element – thereby reducing noise generation and wear to a minimum.
Initial stress for better rigidity of the rail guide
In order to increase the rigidity of the system, linear guides can be given an initial stress – this reduces the deflection behaviour of the guide system.
This initial stress is achieved by using rolling elements with a defined oversize.
Initial stress classes
The individual initial stress classes correspond to a pre-stressing of the rolling elements which are defined as a percentage of the dynamic carrying capacity C.
Designation | Description | |
---|---|---|
No initial stress | Z0 | 0 |
Slight initial stress | Z1 | Up to 2% of C |
Medium initial stress | Z2 | Up to 5% of C |
High initial stress | Z3 | Up to 8% of C |
Special initial stress | ZX | According to customer specifications |
Highlights
- High dynamic performance
- Low friction
- High degree of rigidity
- Optimum smooth running
- Low-maintenance operation
- High efficiency
- Flexible sealing system