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Introduction to linear guides

Publish Time：

2025-01-14

Linear guides, also known as linear rails, slide rails, linear bearings, or linear slides, are used in linear reciprocating motion applications and can withstand a certain amount of torque, enabling high-precision linear motion under high loads. Their main function is to provide an accurate linear motion path, allowing equipment to move precisely along a predetermined trajectory. Common brands include THK linear guides, HTPM linear guides, HIWIN linear guides, SMC linear guides, and Bosch Rexroth linear guides. These guides come in many varieties from German, Japanese, Taiwanese, and Chinese manufacturers.

The image above shows a linear guide with small circular holes. The distance between two holes is the hole pitch; larger guide sizes have correspondingly larger hole pitches.

The image above shows linear guides of different sizes, illustrating the significant differences between them. Note that the dimensions vary across different models and brands.

Linear guides are widely used in CNC machine tools, automated production lines, medical equipment, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, packaging machinery, and logistics warehousing systems. In these applications, linear guides enable high-precision linear motion and positioning, improving equipment performance and reliability.

 

Linear guide, equipment, guide rail, dimensions, linear motion

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A small guide to selecting linear guide slides

How should I choose a slider?

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A small guide to selecting linear guide slides

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Linear guide rail - stainless steel guide rail

sj2025-01-08

Linear guide rail - stainless steel guide rail

Due to different working environments, there are different requirements for linear guides. Let's talk about stainless steel linear guides. Although not widely used, common brands such as THK, HTPM, and HIWIN all offer stainless steel linear guides, but only a few models are made of stainless steel. There are many short videos online introducing linear guides. These videos are short and fast-paced, requiring multiple viewings to fully understand. While they may seem informative at first glance, upon closer examination, they lack significant in-depth knowledge (personal opinion). Let's discuss the advantages and disadvantages of stainless steel guides. The advantages of stainless steel guides mainly include: 1. Strong corrosion resistance: They maintain stable performance in humid and corrosive environments, resisting oxidation, reduction, and acid-base erosion. 2. Good wear resistance: The surface is specially treated, providing high wear resistance, suitable for high-load, high-speed operation, and extending the service life. 3. High precision and stability: They enable precise sliding and positioning, improving production efficiency and product quality. 4. Strong load-carrying capacity: They can withstand significant loads and impact forces, meeting the needs of various applications. 5. Wide range of applications: They are widely used in chemical, marine engineering, food processing, CNC machine tools, automated equipment, and industrial robots. However, there are also some drawbacks: 1. Higher cost and price: The high cost of stainless steel leads to relatively expensive guides. 2. Heavier weight: The high density and weight of stainless steel increase overall equipment weight and cost. 3. Difficult to process: The high hardness and toughness of stainless steel require special processing techniques and equipment, increasing processing difficulty and cost. In summary, stainless steel guides excel in corrosion resistance, wear resistance, precision, and stability, but are relatively costly and difficult to process. Selection should be based on specific application scenarios and requirements.

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Linear guide rail replacement and repair case

sj2024-12-31

Linear guide rail replacement and repair case

The following is a case study of replacing and repairing a linear guide rail: Customer feedback: "The equipment suddenly stopped moving left and right, so it needs repair." Therefore, we went to the site to replace the linear guide rail installed on the equipment. On-site confirmation: A device for processing profiles is installed above the linear guide rail. This device moves left and right using the linear guide rail to process the profiles. However, the guide rail on site could no longer move left and right, preventing it from working. It was visually apparent that the linear guide rail was damaged. When the equipment on the guide rail was lifted with a crowbar and the slider was removed, it was found to be damaged. Due to severe rusting at the mounting points of the slider and rail, it was difficult to remove the slider when disassembling it, which may have caused the damage to the linear guide rail. When we tried moving it again after replacing it with a new slider, the movement was still very poor. It is estimated that simply replacing the slider would not only cause it to be damaged again, but may also damage the rail and rack. Therefore, we informed the customer of the current condition of the equipment, the repair method and the quotation, and persuaded the customer to carry out further repairs. Repair process The equipment was lifted with a crowbar, and wooden blocks were placed under the workbench to prevent the equipment above from falling, and then the slider was removed. When trying to remove the slider, it was quite difficult to move it due to severe rust on the rail. Since the slider could not be removed smoothly, we first removed the rust using sandpaper and rust remover. (The rust on the rail made it difficult to move the slider; if the slider was forcibly moved, it could be damaged.) After the repair and test run, the workbench of the profile processing equipment ran smoothly. Suggestions on how to prevent recurrence of faults Regular inspection of transmission parts is very important to prevent unexpected damage. As a preventive measure, it is recommended to lubricate the guide rail regularly. If not dealt with in time, this kind of rust will occur, which may lead to equipment failure. (Construction site: Gunma Prefecture, Japan) The above is the main content of the repair report. This is a very common after-sales service scenario. Therefore, the questions are: 1. The report believes that the main cause of the failure is rust on the guide rail. Do you agree with this reason? 2. The corresponding measures in the report are: replacing the slider and removing rust from the rail. Is this OK? If you have better suggestions, please leave your comments and suggestions.

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Kate LSQ Linear Guide Rail Unveiled

sj2025-03-05

Kate LSQ Linear Guide Rail Unveiled

Exploring the Kate LSQ Linear Guideway: High-Speed, Quiet Operation, Leading the New Trend in Precision Transmission In the field of precision machinery and automation, linear guideways serve as core components, and their performance directly affects the overall performance of the equipment. The Kate LSQ linear guideway, with its unique design and excellent performance, stands out among many similar products, making it the ideal choice for equipment that demands high precision, low noise, and high-speed operation. 1. Innovative Design, Quiet and Efficient The LSQ linear guideway adopts a four-row single circular arc groove contact design. The ingenious layout of each ball row with a 45-degree contact angle allows the guideway to easily handle loads from multiple directions, ensuring the stability and accuracy of equipment operation. Its unique feature is the ball retainer chain with spaced balls in each row. This innovative design offers several advantages: the high-strength plastic components of the ball circulation path effectively eliminate metal noise generated by collisions between balls. Compared to the traditional LGS type, the LSQ type effectively reduces noise intensity by approximately 5 decibels at all speeds, providing quiet operation for noise-sensitive work environments; the oil storage space designed in the spaced sections of the retainer chain ensures continuous lubrication of the balls during movement. This not only achieves long-term maintenance-free operation but also greatly reduces changes in frictional resistance, making the slider movement smoother. Even at high speeds, precise positioning and efficient transmission can be easily achieved. 2. Exquisite Craftsmanship, Superior Quality Controlling quality from the source, Kate LSQ linear guideways select high-quality bearing steel as raw materials. These materials undergo special heat treatment processes, resulting in uniform and extremely high surface hardness, giving the guideway excellent wear resistance and fatigue resistance, significantly extending the product's service life. In the precision machining process, relying on advanced CNC machining equipment and precision testing instruments, the dimensional accuracy of the guideway and slider is strictly controlled. Key indicators such as straightness, planarity, and slider parallelism are precisely controlled within the micrometer range. Each LSQ linear guideway undergoes multiple rounds of rigorous quality inspection procedures before leaving the factory, ensuring that every detail meets high-quality standards. Only products that pass the inspection are eligible to enter the market and be delivered to users. 3. Wide Application, Deep Empowerment With its excellent high-speed, quiet, and low-dust characteristics, the Kate LSQ linear guideway plays a key role in numerous industries. In semiconductor manufacturing equipment, its high precision and low dust content meet the stringent environmental and precision requirements of precision processes such as chip manufacturing, helping to achieve high-precision and high-efficiency chip production; in the electronics manufacturing industry, the LSQ linear guideway helps electronic assembly equipment achieve high-speed and precise motion control, adapting to the production needs of electronic products that are increasingly miniaturized and refined, improving production efficiency and product quality; in the medical equipment field, its low noise and high stability allow medical imaging equipment, surgical robots, etc., to provide more accurate diagnostic and treatment services to patients, improving the reliability and safety of medical equipment. The Kate LSQ linear guideway, with its innovative design, exquisite craftsmanship, superior performance, and wide applicability, has become a star product in the field of precision transmission. It not only provides strong support for equipment upgrades and technological innovation in various industries but also drives the entire manufacturing industry toward high precision, high efficiency, and intelligence. Choosing the Kate LSQ linear guideway means choosing a precise, efficient, and reliable linear motion solution, injecting strong momentum into the sustainable development of enterprises.

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Japanese imported THK linear guide SRG series makes equipment run as fast as lightning

sj2025-03-14

Japanese imported THK linear guide SRG series makes equipment run as fast as lightning

THK SRG Series Linear Guide: Revolutionary Power for the Industrial Backbone In the wave of intelligent manufacturing, the THK SRG series linear guide redefines the standards for heavy-duty precision transmission with its groundbreaking roller retainer technology, providing a core solution that combines high rigidity, low friction, and long life for high-end equipment. As a benchmark product in the field of roller guides, the SRG series is reshaping the future of industrial transmission through material innovation and structural optimization. I. Core Technological Breakthrough: The Perfect Balance of Heavy Load and Precision This series of linear guides has a robust structural design. By optimizing the track shape and roller arrangement, it significantly improves the rigidity and load-carrying capacity of the linear guide. It can easily handle high-load conditions, ensuring that the equipment remains stable even under significant external forces. In the field of machine tool processing, the SRG series linear guide can support heavy cutting tools and workpieces, maintaining stability during high-speed cutting to ensure processing accuracy and surface quality, and improve production efficiency. Application Case: TRUMPF Laser Cutting Machine After the TRUMPF TruLaser 5030 machine tool was equipped with SRG 85 guides, the dynamic positioning accuracy remained stable at ±0.008 mm during high-speed cutting of 6 mm stainless steel plates, and processing efficiency increased by 30%. Its roller retainer technology effectively absorbs cutting vibrations, avoiding the edge chipping problems caused by insufficient rigidity in traditional ball guides. II. Long-Term Performance: The Arrival of the Maintenance-Free Era The SRG series linear guides use high-quality materials and special surface treatment processes, giving them excellent wear resistance. During long-term continuous operation, the wear on the guide surface is minimal, effectively extending the maintenance cycle and service life of the equipment. Even under high-intensity working conditions for extended periods in automated production lines, the SRG series linear guides maintain good performance, reducing equipment downtime and lowering operating costs for businesses. Application Case: Tesla Shanghai Gigafactory Press Line The press production line at Tesla's Shanghai factory uses SRG-L extended guides. Under high-intensity conditions with 24-hour continuous operation, the lubrication cycle is extended to 4500 hours, reducing downtime maintenance by 70% compared to traditional guides. The special surface treatment process extends the guide life to over 30,000 hours, reducing maintenance costs by 40%. III. Application Scenarios: Core Support for High-End Manufacturing 1. Machine Tool Processing The Japanese Yamazaki Mazak INTEGREX i-400 AM hybrid machine tool uses SRG 65 guides to maintain micrometer-level accuracy during 5-axis linkage processing. Its 45° contact angle design allows the machine tool to withstand an overturning moment of 800 N·m, ensuring the stability of complex surface processing. 2. Industrial Robots After using the SRG modular guide, the load capacity of the KUKA KR 1000 Titan heavy-duty robot increased from 800 kg to 1000 kg, and the repeat positioning accuracy reached ±0.005 mm. In automotive body welding, the cycle time is shortened by 15%, and the weld consistency is improved by 25%. 3. Semiconductor Manufacturing The wafer handling system of TSMC's 3nm chip production line is equipped with customized SRG-Nano guides, achieving nanometer-level positioning in a cleanroom environment. Its hooded roller technology prevents the intrusion of 0.1 μm particles, ensuring that the equipment has an annual uptime exceeding 8700 hours. 4. Medical Imaging Equipment The Siemens SOMATOM Force CT scanner uses SRG silent guides, controlling vibration noise during scanning to below 55 decibels. The low-friction characteristics increase the gantry rotation speed to 0.25 seconds/revolution while maintaining sub-millimeter slice thickness accuracy. IV. Innovation and Upgrades: The Future of Intelligent Transmission The SRG series linear guides use THK's unique advanced manufacturing processes and precision grinding technology to ensure that the matching accuracy of the guide blocks reaches the micrometer level. This high-precision characteristic allows the equipment to achieve extremely precise positioning and movement during operation, effectively avoiding product quality problems caused by errors. In semiconductor manufacturing equipment, the SRG series linear guides can precisely control the handling and processing positions of wafers, meeting the requirements of nanometer-level manufacturing processes and providing strong hardware support for the development of the semiconductor industry. Application Case: Boston Dynamics Robot Boston Dynamics' Spot Mini robot integrates lightweight SRG guides in joint transmission, increasing the payload-to-self-weight ratio by 40%. The integrated displacement sensor monitors the joint status in real time, and the AI algorithm predicts potential failures, improving maintenance efficiency by 60%. V. Industry Benchmark Application Examples From precision machine tools to automated production lines, from medical equipment to semiconductor manufacturing, THK SRG linear guides are driving global industrial equipment towards higher precision and higher efficiency with their revolutionary technological breakthroughs. Choosing the SRG series is not just choosing a transmission component; it is choosing the core competitiveness of the intelligent manufacturing era. If you have any objections or needs, please feel free to contact me. You are also welcome to discuss with me. Contact number: 15524757549 (WeChat synchronized)

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