The INA Linear Technology sector of Schaeffler Group Industrial has developed a hydrostatic compact linear guide for machine tools which achieves excellent hydrostatic damping characteristics and is manufactured to fit in the same installation space as conventional profiled rail linear guides.
Hydrostatic compact linear guides combine hydrostatic damping characteristics with the compact dimensions of a profiled rail linear guide.
Machine tool vibration results from high dynamic process forces. It can have negative effects on the surface quality of the workpiece and cause tool wear, depending on the dynamic machine characteristics. Passive damping elements (e.g. INARUDS) or active dampers can effectively reduce this machine tool vibration and thus help to improve the machining quality and the cutting volume. In any case, this requires the installation of additional elements and masses. Operating an active damper additionally requires complex technical adjustments. As a rule, profiled rail linear guides are used for supporting the axes thanks to their simple installation, standardized design envelope and high performance density and rigidity.
Damping characteristics of a hydrostatic compact linear guide compared to a profiled rail linear guide.
With the development of a standardized hydrostatic compact guide, Schaeffler Group Industrial has now successfully combined the hydrostatic damping characteristics with the compact dimensions of a profiled rail linear guide. So, from now on, machine tool manufacturers have the possibility to implement different performance classes in machine tools while adhering to the machine concept. The pre-adjusted, ready-to-install hydrostatic compact linear guide can replace without any problems a profiled rail linear guide of the same size due to identical adjacent dimensions and structure clearance. This results in clearly reduced design efforts. The remaining axes can still be equipped with profiled rail linear guides. In hybrid machines, for instance, it is possible to combine rolling element guidance systems, rolling element guidance systems with additional elements (damping carriage RUDS) and hydrostatic compact linear guides depending on customer requirements.
Filed Under: Machine tools + subtractive manufacturing, LINEAR MOTION, Motion control • motor controls