Welcome to our Engineering Corner, where we rotate topics every month on specific technologies, solutions and products! This month we're discussing the two main technologies used for precision linear guidance, which are cross-roller bearings and square rail recirculating ball guides (“square rails”).
Cross rollers employ a non-recirculating method of bearing support and have non-constant support geometry
, meaning the moving element may overhang the support base. Features of cross-roller bearings include:
- Very small frictional resistance and very small difference between static and dynamic friction make cross roller bearings great for minute motion.
- Exceptional for smooth motion as they do not have recirculating elements which introduce vibration.
- They are typically used in optical and measurement equipment where high precision movement is required.
Square rail bearings employ recirculating ball elements that ride in grooves along the side of a precision machined rail.
This type of technology is the most common in the precision motion control market due to its versatility
and provide:
- Good stiffness, straightness and flatness though typically not quite as good as the cross roller bearings.
- They have low friction, no stick-slip and smooth linear motion even under high load.
- Meet a wide range of needs making them an ideal solution in both high precision and general industrial applications.
We hope you find this information helpful, if you have any questions or would like more information please contact our team today.
