Linear technology in motion

What do you associate with linear technology, first and foremost? As a manufacturer, one first thinks of pick&place, positioning and diagnostics applications. The principle of linear motion is also to be found very frequently in everyday life, however, for instance in rail vehicles, kitchen drawers and sliding doors. But despite the vast variety of applications, the basic characteristics of linear technology are clear: a low friction guide and the possibility to accept cross-loads without deformation. When you're looking for a linear system for your application, these are things you should be looking for:

These classifications will help you to select the best solution for your application. We present a representative selection of MISUMI components below:

Rail guides of this type have proved their value for decades. Shaft-based guide systems are limited in guiding length by the maximum available shaft length. They are limited in practice by the flexing of the shaft as a function of its unsupported section. This type of rail guide is only available in versions with linear ball bearings, bushings and connecting and support elements such as shaft supports and blocks. In order to handle torque around the longitudinal axis, two subsystems are required, since a single shaft configuration alone is unable to do so.

A special case is that of ball bearing guideways, whose traversing path is always limited by the bearing cage, although on the other hand, it can handle rotary movements. One advantage of this type of rail guide is its excellent, smooth operation in the pre-tensioned state.

MISUMI supplies all individual components required to make shaft based guide systems. Configure your own solution or let us consult with you in person.

Rail-based guide systems can limit motion exclusively to the linear direction, and can even handle torque around the longitudinal axis. They are basically composed of a rail profile and carriage/slide. The rails themselves may be pressed, extruded metal sheet profiles or heavy-duty milled and hardened/polished profiles. Profile rail roller guides is the most usual combination. The guiding length is limited by the rail or side-by-side placement of the rails. Rails are available in a variety of tolerances and load classes. Since the rail is in direct contact with the bearing base over its entire length and is secured at short distances, it is possible to build guideways to handle very high loads with extraordinary precision. Cross roller guides and raceway rail guides always have a limited traversing path, however they are very smooth running under pre-tension. Simple rail guideways may be roller guides, bar guides or telescopic rail guides, all available in many combinations and executions. However, they cannot offer the load capacity and tolerances of hardened and polished guideways.

MISUMI offers a complete catalogue of rail based guide systems with excellent prices and quick delivery times.

Linear units limit the movement to the linear axis. They are generally equipped with mechanical drives. The drives may be screw, spindle or rack-and-pinion drives. Linear units designed for motor drives, can be grouped into the conventional type with rail guides and more compact, modern solutions with internal guides. Hand driven units are available as conventional units with profile rail guideways, in which the body is usually extruded or the motion is driven by hand.
In simplified form, units are available with shaft, dovetail and sliding guides.

MISUMI offers a wide range of linear units in a variety of executions to satisfy your special application requirements. Our LX linear units boast a delivery time of just 8 working days. Seeing is believing!