Classification system of linear guide
linear guide as a mechanical transmission to realize the key components of linear motion, its classification is usually based on the form of structure, friction characteristics, load capacity, accuracy level and other core dimensions. The following analysis from various aspects of its classification system and application characteristics:
First, according to the structural form and rolling body type classification
1. Ball linear guide
Structural characteristics: steel ball as rolling body, through the guide and the slider within the cycle of the raceway to achieve infinite travel movement, the coefficient of friction is extremely low (0.002-0.003), the motion sensitivity to micron-level response.
Core advantages: high positioning accuracy (repeat positioning ±0.01mm), fast dynamic response (acceleration up to 5g), and installation and debugging without complex fixtures, suitable for high-speed and light-load scenarios.
Typical applications: XYZ axis drive of CNC machine tools, semiconductor wafer handling platforms, coordinate measuring instruments and other equipment that require high motion accuracy.
2. Roller Linear Guide
Structural characteristics: the use of cylindrical rollers instead of steel balls, roller and raceway are in line contact, the contact area is 3-5 times larger than that of ball guide, and the rated dynamic load is increased to more than 10kN.
Core advantages: outstanding overturning moment resistance (40% higher than ball guide), strong rigidity (elastic deformation ≤ 0.005mm/1000mm), can withstand alternating impact load (such as injection molding machine clamping force).
Typical applications: heavy-duty gantry machining centers, industrial robots, the seventh axis of the automotive stamping mold guide and other heavy-duty working conditions.
3. Sliding Linear Guide
Structural characteristics: no rolling body design, relying on the guide and the slider between the metal contact surface or wear-resistant coatings (such as PTFE paste plastic, cast iron - cast iron pair) to achieve sliding friction, need to be matched with the oil pool or grease lubrication.
Core advantages: simple structure (cost 50% lower than rolling guide), good vibration resistance (suitable for punch presses and other high-impact equipment), maintenance requires only regular oil replenishment, suitable for low-speed scenarios (speed ≤ 15m/min).
Typical applications: traditional lathe bed guide, punch press slider guide, automated production lines, such as pallet conveyor guide, and other occasions that do not require high precision.
Second, according to the classification of friction characteristics
1. Rolling friction guideway
Containing types: ball guide, roller guide, needle roller guide (with slender needle rolling body, small radial size).
Characteristics: small frictional resistance, low energy loss, good smoothness of movement, suitable for high-speed, high-precision scenes, but the installation of high precision requirements.
2. Sliding friction guide
Containing types: metal sliding guide (such as cast iron guide), paste plastic sliding guide (guide surface paste plastic wear-resistant layer), hydrostatic guide (through the high-pressure oil film to achieve non-contact sliding).
Characteristics: low cost, good vibration resistance, but frictional resistance, easy to heat, suitable for low-speed, heavy loads or the precision requirements of the equipment is not high.
Third, according to the direction of load and structural design classification
1. Single-row guide and multi-row guide
Single-row guide: only a set of rolling bearings, compact structure, suitable for light load or unidirectional load (such as horizontal linear motion).
Multi-row guide: such as double-row, four-row structure, through the distribution of multiple sets of rolling elements to enhance the tipping capacity, can withstand composite loads (such as vertical + lateral force), commonly used in gantry machine tools, machining centers.
2. Radial load guideway and axial load guideway
Radial load guide: mainly withstand perpendicular to the direction of the guide (such as the weight of the table), is the most common type.
Axial load guide: special design (such as thrust roller structure), can withstand the axial thrust, for the need for bidirectional positioning of the scene (such as screw drive system).
Fourth, according to the classification of accuracy level
1. Ordinary grade (C grade)
Tolerance range: straightness of about 0.05-0.1mm/1000mm, suitable for general mechanical transmission (such as automated conveyor lines).
2. precision grade (P grade)
Tolerance range: straightness of about 0.01-0.03mm/1000mm, for CNC machine tools, laser processing equipment, etc.
3. Ultra-precision grade (SP grade / UP grade)
Tolerance range: straightness ≤ 0.005mm/1000mm, with the scale to achieve nanometer positioning, used in semiconductor lithography, aerospace precision platform.
Fifth, according to the installation and structural form of classification
1. Square guide and flange guide
Square guide: the side of the slider and the guide rail parallel to the mounting holes perpendicular to the surface of the guide rail, suitable for horizontal installation of compact space.
Flange type guide rail: the bottom and side of the slider have mounting holes, can be installed vertically or sideways, more balanced bearing capacity, commonly used in vertical axis (such as Z-axis).
2. Embedded guide rail and exposed guide rail
Embedded guide rail: the guide rail is installed in the groove of the equipment base, good dustproof, suitable for harsh environments (such as woodworking machinery, textile equipment).
Exposed rail: directly fixed to the surface of the equipment, easy maintenance, commonly used in machine tool tables, robot axis system.
Six, special application scenarios classification
1. Clean room special guide rail
Characteristics: made of stainless steel, self-lubricating design, to avoid dust contamination, suitable for semiconductor, medical equipment.
2. Heavy-duty guideway
Features: reinforced raceway design, with large diameter roller, can withstand tens of tons of load, for engineering machinery, metallurgical equipment.
3. Miniature linear guideway
Characteristics: width of guideway ≤ 15mm, small size of slider, suitable for 3C products production line, precision instrumentation fine-tuning mechanism.
Selection of key logic
load demand: light load selection of ball guide, heavy load selection of roller guide or sliding guide;
accuracy requirements: precision machinery selection of P level or above, ordinary equipment selection of C level;
environmental conditions: clean room selection of stainless steel guide, the poor working conditions selection of dust-proof structure;
speed of movement: high-speed scenes give priority to the rolling guide, low-speed scenarios can be considered sliding guide.
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