Linear Motion Systems
Linear Motion Systems
(OP)
Does anyone here have any experience with pre-made linear ways and rollers, or the Utilitrak system by Bishop Wisecarver Co.? I am trying to find an alternative to fabricating and precision grinding miniature dovetail ways.
Anyone having had experience in this area that would respond to this would be a big help, as the brochures leave a lot of questions unanswered.
Thanking you,
gdea
Anyone having had experience in this area that would respond to this would be a big help, as the brochures leave a lot of questions unanswered.
Thanking you,
gdea
Blessed is he who accepts his broken sword from Fate the Conqueror with a manly and a humble heart.





RE: Linear Motion Systems
-handleman, CSWP (The new, easy test)
RE: Linear Motion Systems
http://www.pacific-bearing.com/default.aspx
RE: Linear Motion Systems
My questions to anyone experienced in this area woould be "are you satisfied with the precision and reliability". "Which particular product have you had experience with", etc.
None of the distributors in this area have any of these products in stock for visual inspection and the data included in the manufacturers brochures are all there is to see.
Thanks for the lead on Pacific Bearing. I will call their sales dept to speak first hand with one of their reps, I believe their GST will fill my needs. Thanks to all for your response,
gdea
Blessed is he who accepts his broken sword from Fate the Conqueror with a manly and a humble heart.
RE: Linear Motion Systems
Its hard to suggest anything to you, since you haven't given any information on your application. Our use was vertically mounted linear rails, for moving a 200lb sliding carriage in a commuter train application.
RE: Linear Motion Systems
To answer your question, yes, I was satisfied with the precision and reliability.
However, you don't know what my requirements were, or what standards I might of held the supplier to regarding satisfaction do you?
High-quality linear slides are available from many sources. You can get whatever precision and reliability you are willing to pay for. Define your requirements and work with an application engineer to help select the appropriate system.
RE: Linear Motion Systems
Loads
Contamination
Moment (in all directions requiring rigidity)
Required mounting accuracy
Required linear precision
Rigidity of the mounted system
Maximum "slop" allowed
Vibration
Impact loading
You can't just say "has anyone used these?" and expect any information that is actually relevant to your situation.
-handleman, CSWP (The new, easy test)
RE: Linear Motion Systems
When you ask the question "are you satisfied with the precision and reliability", it really depends what your expectations and end use requirements are, especially with regard to rigidity in pitch roll and yaw between the moving carriage and the mounting rail. This goes hand in hand with the damping characteristics if you are building a machine tool.
For a simple, fairly accurate positioning system with a wide range of travel (including turns) for production line automation and low force "Pick and Place" devices you will be pleased with the grooved cam follower type vee wheel on special section rail. Fairly short sraight systems are OK with plain or ball bushings on ground shafting, but you must mount the shafts very accurately if you use a pair to eliminate rotation. Most Telescopic systems I've encountered are little better than kitchen drawer runners.
For ultimate machine tool type rigidity and accuracy, then the best (and most expensive option) is recirculating ball and roller carriages (preferably caged type) on precision ground rails, although they won't have the ultimate damping effect of a prismatic dovetal slide they give smooth movement that is free from "stick-slip". With all types of guide, pay careful attention to the aspect ratio between the guiding element mounting points and the force vectors you expect to encounter to minimise deflection.
Hope this helps.
Trevor Clarke. (R & D) Scientific Instruments.Somerset. UK
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