Linear roller guides for demanding applications

For linear motion applications that need to transport heavy loads, with high accuracy, yet with compact dimensions, linear roller guides can offer an ideal solution, as the experts at IKO Nippon Thompson explain.

While ball rail guides are a popular, cost-effective choice for many applications, as the requirements become more demanding in terms of load, precision, stiffness, frictional resistance and lifespan, linear roller guides offer significant benefits for design engineers. Rather than the point contact of the balls in ball rail guides, roller guides employ cylindrical rollers with line contact, and this is the key to accommodating higher loads in an equivalently sized package.

This capability makes linear roller guides the product of choice in applications such as machine tools where heavy loads need to be moved with precision. At the same time, on the other end of the scale, the ability to downsize the package without sacrificing load carrying capacity means linear roller guides prove popular options in precision medical and semiconductor applications.

To meet the requirements of the most demanding linear motion tasks, IKO Nippon Thompson has developed the MX range of linear roller guides. Specially designed to deliver longer lifecycles and higher loads, these high-performance rolling guides employ four rows of well-balanced cylindrical rollers arranged in parallel in a high-rigidity casing. This allows for smooth running, high reliability, high accuracy and rigidity.

Even when heavy load or fluctuating load is applied, MX has low elastic deformation and is stable, making it suitable when vibration or shock is applied. Models are available in a wide range of performances and in sizes from 10-65mm (100mm for LRX), and can be selected according to the application. In particular, MX is a popular choice where design engineers want to increase the load carrying capacity of an application but without the need to make any dimensional changes. With MX, you can have a higher load with the same dimensions.

A key feature of the MX roller guides is IKO Nippon Thompson’s C-Lube lubrication technology which maintains the lubrication performance for an extended period of time, reducing or removing the need for lubrication schedules and the time it takes to manage them. Engineers benefit from the same high performance in applications requiring high load capacity and running accuracy such as machine tools and semiconductor/liquid crystal related manufacturing equipment, but with reduced overall system costs.

Along with higher load carrying capacity, MX linear roller guides also accommodate higher moment loads than its standard ball type linear guides, reducing pitching, yawing and roll with heavy loads. This again can enable a smaller guide to be selected for a given load or can simplify overall system design.

Further, while offering excellent levels of precision as standard, MX linear guides are also available in high-precision or ultra-precision version to meet the needs of even the most demanding applications. And for use in the likes of food and beverage or clean room applications, MX can be offered in stainless steel rather than the typical carbon steel.

MX can meet the needs of harsh environment applications as well, with ‘defence in depth’ sealing options to prevent contaminants getting into the carriage or slide unit and damaging the rolling elements. At the simplest level, this can include dedicated sealing caps for the mounting rail holes, or cover plates for the track rails. In environments where there is some risk of dust penetrating the guide, double end seals mounted to the slide unit increase the level of protection.

For the harshest environments, IKO Nippon Thompson offers its RC option for the MX series, combining a scraper, proprietary ‘C-Wiper’, spacer and inner seal to virtually eliminate the risk of contaminants getting into the system. The metal scraper mounted to the slide unit provides a first line of defence, effectively removing any large foreign substances adhering to the track rail. The C-Wiper and seal improve dust and particle protection. And the inner seal provides further defence to prevent any contaminants getting in. The RCC sealing strategy is available on MX guides from size 20 upwards, and plays a key role in IKO Nippon Thompson recommendation of up to 20,000km in certain environments. The fact that the company’s guides are used on the Mars rovers illustrates the confidence that IKO Nippon Thompson and its customers have in their longevity.

Attention to detail in other areas sets the MX roller guides apart, too. Triple grinding of the raceway rather than the more traditional single grinding increases accuracy. There are numerous options on the carriages as well, including low profile variants. And for long travel applications that require standard lengths of rail to be butt jointed, the way IKO Nippon Thompson machines its ends results in reduced wear, reduced noise and increased service life.

For precision applications in a wide variety of industries, IKO Nippon Thompson is committed to providing high quality, high accuracy, long life products, backed up with the highest levels of engineering support.