By PYC Bearings
©2004-2008
Schaeffler has expanded its range of miniature linear guidance systems, offering machine builders and designers lighter, more compact designs that provide optimum positional accuracy and repeatability, even in harsh environments.
The miniature plain guidance systems are linear locating bearings with at least one carriage. The units can support forces from all directions ¨C apart from the direction of motion ¨C and moments about all axes.
The guides are ready-to-fit and maintenance-free, for stroke lengths of up to 3m. The carriage and guideway are both constructed from extruded, anodised aluminium and so offer high resistance to chemical substances and other contaminants.
The guides are ideal for use in lightweight, aluminium machine designs, as well as applications with low loads, moment loads, dry running or harsh environments. Operating temperatures are from ¨C40ˇăC up to 80ˇăC.
New to SchaefflerˇŻs existing range of miniature profiled rail linear guidance systems is the KWEM double row miniature ball monorail guidance system, which comes in four sizes with corresponding guideways (TKDM).
The units are extremely compact and are designed for medium load carrying capacity, medium to high moment loads, accelerations of up to 50m/s2 and speeds of up to 180m/s.
The double rows of balls are in four-point contact with the raceways. The double row assemblies consist of at least one carriage with full-complement ball system, locating face and ball retainers, as well as a guideway with two locating faces. The units are pre-loaded and greased and operate in temperatures from ¨C40ˇăC up to 100ˇăC.
Special seals are provided at the carriage faces to prevent ingress of dirt. Re-lubrication is carried out via lubrication holes at the carriage end piece. The guideways can also be combined with all available carriage types within the same size and preload class.
The KWEM-MKS has a metal end piece, which makes the unit suitable for high temperature environments or for applications with high dynamic forces. All metal parts are made from corrosion resistant steel.
Miniature linear ball monorail guidance systems are ideal for applications in which linear movements of high positional and repeat accuracy are required. They are suitable for use in production and technical mounting systems, assembly equipment, microelectronic systems, medical engineering and other high precision handling machines.
For more information on Schaeffler GroupˇŻs range of miniature guidance systems, please visit www.schaeffler.co.uk or telephone the marketing department on 0121 351 3833.