Caged ball profile rails for linear guidance

Cleveland – Nook Industries, a producer of linear motion components and systems, has introduced a caged ball profile rail for linear guidance. 

 

Caged ball chains provide reduced friction, lower noise levels, and prevent the bearings from making incidental contact. Nook’s new line improves on more traditional designs with lubrication advantages, a patented reinforcement plate, and an overall dustproof design.

 

The lubrication design adds no additional length to the runner block and the pad contacts directly with the ball bearings. The lubrication storage pad can save enough lubricant to ensure long-term effects while conforming to environmental protection needs and lowering overall maintenance costs. Lubrication port fittings can be placed on the top, bottom, or sides of the runner block and O-ring seals ensure easy and clean lubrication.

 

The addition of two stainless steel reinforcement plates on either end of the runner block increases rigidity while adding a scraper function. With a clearance of less than 0.3mm, the plate can remove items such as iron filings from the rail and also increase x-axis direction force capacity and increase operating speed.

 

Dustproof design is accomplished through the plate design and several other advances. Newly designed inner seals slant inward at 45°, protecting against foreign objects and reducing friction. A full-sealing bottom seal reduces oil usage by preventing lubrication leaks. Two different end-seal designs, Standard (B) and Reinforcement (S), allow customers to choose the solution best suited to their conditions.