Linear Motion Tips

Rollon has upgraded its Telerace family of linear rails to help designers simplify projects and enhance the efficiency of automated systems. Two Telerace families of cold-drawn steel rails now feature induction hardened and ground raceways along with double-row ball bearings for greater load handling capability, longer life and reduced maintenance requirements. The newly enhanced rail […]

Stepper motors are widely used in industrial and consumer applications ranging from packaging equipment and medical devices to 3D printers and vending machines. They have excellent torque production at (relatively) low speeds — especially for a given motor size — and offer high-resolution positioning in a simple-to-use format. These benefits make them well-suited to drive lead […]

V-belts rely on friction caused by the “wedging” of the belt between pulley flanges — together with internal fiber cords — to transmit power in a wide range of industrial and consumer-goods applications. One variation of the traditional V-belt is the ribbed V-belt — also referred to as a V-ribbed, poly V, or serpentine belt. Ribbed V-belts take […]

Nook Industries, a leader in US engineered linear motion products and solutions, announced today that it has sold the family-owned business to Braintree, Massachusetts based Altra Industrial Motion Corp. (Nasdaq: AIMC), a leading global manufacturer and supplier of motion control, power transmission and automation products. The Nook business, which will be integrated into Altra’s Thomson […]

In our 2020 recap of the most-read linear motion articles, we noted how our readers went “back to basics,” with articles about fundamental engineering topics dominating the list. That theme continued in 2021, but this year, the dominant articles dealt not only with engineering basics, but more specifically with “how to calculate” topics. And although […]

Multi-axis linear systems come in a variety of designs, with Cartesian, gantry, and XY tables being some of the most common types. While these designs simplify construction and can provide space savings, they also introduce “stacking” errors — the compounding of errors from each axis, which manifests at the work piece or tool point. Mounting axes […]

MKS Instruments is extending its MLT Series of compact, low profile high precision linear stages with pre-assembled XYZ-stacks and MLT-Z vertical stages. MLT stages are ideal for typical scanning or point-to-point applications in semiconductor, industrial, or research markets for metrology, sensor test and calibration, alignment, and pick-and-place assembly. The MLT series showcases the latest innovations and […]

Comparing rack and pinion drives with other linear drives such as belts and ball screws shows that sometimes simplicity can be the ultimate sophistication. YYC North America These days engineers have quite a few options for actuation in a linear motion system. From various screw drives to linear motors to hydraulic systems, each comes with […]

The most common types of recirculating linear bearings use four rows of balls — two on each side of the bearing block — to provide good load capacity and rigidity. But the four-row design means that when radial (downward or liftoff) or lateral (side) loads are applied, only two rows of balls are engaged to support […]

In profiled rail linear guides that use balls or rollers, the geometry and arrangement of the bearing raceways play a significant role in the bearing’s load capacity, friction, rigidity, and ability to withstand errors in mounting. But there’s another aspect of a bearing’s design that also plays a role in its load capacity and rigidity […]

All metal-on-metal recirculating bearings require lubrication in order to function properly and provide a reasonable bearing life. Lubrication reduces friction and heat by separating the rolling elements from the bearing raceway, inhibits corrosion, protects bearing surfaces from contamination, and helps seals run smoothly and operate effectively. Although the importance of lubrication is clear, choosing the best […]

Building on the success of the original NC4+ Blue, the latest evolution of the non-contact tool setter features an ultra-compact design and is now available in four sizes, with operating gaps ranging from 55 to 240 mm. Measurement repeatability has also been improved across the range, now down to +/- 0.5 micron on smaller separations. […]

Moticont’s HCDS-051-064 series of open aperture voice coil stages are linear DC motor driven stages. Designed for closed loop servo operation, an integral quadrature optical encoder with differential outputs is standard. The stages are clean, quiet, and efficient, with low inertia, high acceleration, and high speed. Each stage has a built-in home switch for accurate […]

Synchronous belts transmit power via positive engagement between belt teeth and pulley grooves, making them suitable for applications that require high torque and making them less prone than traditional V-belts to slip in dynamic applications. But even synchronous belts can experience failure if they’re not installed, maintained, and applied properly. One way that toothed belts […]

When it comes to electromechanical linear actuators, integrated designs offer space savings, reduced complexity, and lower total cost of ownership with fewer parts required for repair or replacement. One such design that’s found multiple uses in medical, 3D printing, and assembly applications is the hybrid stepper motor linear actuator, which combines a ball or lead […]

Thomson Industries, Inc. has added a real-time special machining configuration capability to its online shaft selector tool. The new functionality lets customers reduce the time spent in customizing round rail shafting for their application needs to mere minutes instead of hours or even days. Typically, a customer uses the Thomson shaft selector to specify materials, […]

In any motion system, understanding the type and direction of applied and resultant loads is important for determining bearing life and analyzing deflection. In linear motion systems, we typically use Cartesian coordinates (X, Y, and Z) to define the placement and direction of loads. But for rotating components such as screws, rack and pinion drives, […]

Applications that require micron or sub-micron level positioning with extremely smooth motion and control often call for a direct drive system — linear motor, piezo motor, or voice coil actuator. Linear motor stages are typically used when high forces are needed over stroke lengths greater than a few hundred millimeters. But for high-precision applications with […]

The newest motor/actuators with integral controls from Curtiss-Wright’s Actuation Division, the Exlar SA-R080 rotary and SA-L080 linear actuator, are the first 80-mm frame size in the harsh environment control and sense family of industrial electromechanical actuators from Curtiss-Wright. The SA series actuators offer force, precision, energy efficiency, and control while minimizing the additional cabling, external […]

SCHNEEBERGER Inc.’s new SLA Actuator delivers high-performance linear positioning at an economical price. SLA Actuators use recirculating ball linear guides that ensure smooth motion and high load capacity. They feature a lightweight precision aluminum base, offer easy assembly, and are stackable without additional brackets. The actuators are highly customizable to meet the demands of virtually any precision linear […]

ElectroCraft, Inc. has added a new NEMA 23 frame size to its AxialPower Enhanced Series Stepper Linear Actuator product line. ElectroCraft enhanced series linear actuators have been available in a NEMA11 frame size for several years but are now being offered in both NEMA17 and NEMA23 frames for greatly enhanced performance capabilities. In addition to […]

Rack and pinion drives are often used in applications that require stroke lengths beyond the practical limits of ball screws and thrust forces that exceed the capabilities of belt drives. And in some applications, rack and pinion systems can also provide lower total inertia than a suitable ball screw or belt drive alternative, which can […]

Moticont has added their highest force linear actuator to their DDLM Linear Actuator Series. The DDLM-038-051-01 Linear Actuator is a low-cost, non-commutated linear actuator that easily integrates into new and existing applications, and is the ideal choice when upgrading from a pneumatic system. Compact, clean, and quiet, this fully enclosed linear actuator, also referred to […]

Whether you’re new to designing and sizing linear motion systems, or you could just use a refresher, we’ve gathered all the articles that cover mechanical concepts used in linear motion systems and put them together here, as a sort of “linear motion basics” reference guide. Unlike our curated lists of articles that address sizing and […]

Designers and engineers typically try to avoid or mitigate friction in linear motion systems. Although friction isn’t always bad — in some applications, it can provide a damping effect and help improve servo tuning — when it comes to linear motion systems, it increases the amount of force required to move a load, creates heat, […]