Modular Kits For Linear Guides

With linear guides, designers often need to tailor the lubrication and sealing to the application. Schaeffler (UK) has launched a range of modular accessories that enable guides to be modified to suit the individual nature of the operating environment. When it comes to specifying high performance linear guidance systems for production machinery, such as machine tools or plastics processing machinery, designers often need to match the design of the guides to the environment they will be operating in. Effective sealing and targeted lubrication of the guides are therefore key design considerations, since these affect the operating life, maintenance intervals and overall machine availability. Schaeffler (UK) has therefore launched a range of modular accessories or 'kits', which designers can specify with a particular linear guide, such as Schaeffler's 'Kuve' range of ball monorail guidance systems. The higher the design requirements, the more 'kit' components or sub-assemblies can be added on. The designer can combine different accessories with a particular linear guide to meet the operating requirements, ambient conditions and contamination levels of the application - from minor contamination levels such as large particulates or swarf, to severe contamination such as exposure to aggressive dust or cooling lubricant. The kits themselves include: long term lubrication units; sheet steel wipers; single- and double-lip end wipers; sealing strips; and seals made from different materials, for example, to withstand aggressive coolants used on machine tools. Maintenance-free linear guidance systems can also be specified. Schaeffler's Kuve ball monorail guidance system, for example, can be modified with a long term lubrication unit (LZV), which, in combination with the Kuve's integral lubricant reservoir, results in a maintenance-free linear guide solution for most applications. Long term tests and practical trials have shown that by upgrading linear guides using modular kits - such as long term lubrication units or effective sealing modules - the operating life of linear guides can be improved significantly, compared to guides that use conventional wipers and leave lubrication issues to the end user.