DryLin® linear bearings and guide systems are wear-resistant, self-lubricating, contamination and corrosion-free and have a low coefficient of friction. DryLin T consists of a hard-anodized aluminum, T-shaped rail, an adjustable carriage made of clear-anodized aluminum and gliding elements made from igus' iglide J polymer material blend, to form a lightweight unit. DryLin N is a lightweight, low-profile linear guide system designed for both high-speed and short-travel applications. DryLin W is available in multiple rail configurations and styles to provide more design options. DryLin linear slide tables are designed to last in applications where ball screws and slides fail, and are available in five styles with a number of accessory options.

Igus, Inc.

MISUMI announces that its standard length straight shafts are now stocked and ready to ship in one day. The "Linear Shafts Quickly" program includes 450 straight shaft types. The configurable linear shaft allows the engineer to specify critical dimensions through various design parameters. MISUMI currently features 198 straight and tapped configurations, all available as standard stock items.

Misumi USA, Inc.

The GS-1630 is a compact and lightweight digital linear gage sensor that can easily be installed in current production equipment and existing fixtures. The gage was designed to measure dimensions, thickness, curvature, eccentricity, displacement, height, depth, flatness, variation, runout, roundness, distortion, deflection and position. The GS-1630 produces highly accurate measurements to 0.00004", and throughout its full 30mm measuring range. A waterproof seal makes it resistant to IP64. Also a dust bellow is provided for extra protection to enable accurate measurements in a harsher environment. Endurance testing shows this sensor may be used beyond 5 million strokes. Automated measurement is also possible by attaching an optional air lifter.

Ono Sokki Technology Inc.

NB Slide Ways are non-recirculating linear motion bearings used primarily in optical and measurement equipment where high precision movement is required. The Sv style consists of two roller cages with precision rollers in a cross arrangement and four rails with V-shaped raceways. The SVW has one rail with V-shaped grooves on both sides and two SV rails.

NB Corporation of America

The HELI-CAL Flexure is a power transmission component made from a single homogeneous high strength material. The helical coil configuration design eliminates the need for elastomeric elements like rubber bushings, spiders, rubber discs, pads, bolts and nuts, etc. It is corrosion and maintenance free, and has unlimited life. Applications include medical instrumentation encoders, techno-generators, lead screws, ball screws, air cooling units, pumps, machine tools, CNC machines, aerospace, aircraft, duplicators, stepping motors, feedback devices, medical conveyor systems, computer peripherals, wind power generators, and many others.

Helical Products Company, Inc.

The updated ScrewRail™ combines drive and support/guidance components in a single, compact coaxial design to save space. It is currently being used in applications for a number of industries, including medical, data storage, semiconductor, industrial machinery, printing/plotting and general automation. The ScrewRail comprises a precision rolled lead screw, supported by sealed bearings and contained within a concentric steel guide rail, that drives an integrated nut/bushing. TFE® coating and self-lubricating nut/bushing materials ensure long life without maintenance.

Kerk Motion Products

The MX Rodless Band Cylinder has three bearing options for a variety of application needs. The Internal bearing design is permanently lubricated for long, trouble-free service and is especially suited for vertical applications. Stainless steel bands on the MX will not expand like elastomer bands, providing reliable sealing over the life of the actuator. They also withstand the effects of pressure spikes that are created during high velocity cushion impact. This piston is isolated from the applied load and remains isolated even when the carrier is subjected to deflection, extending the service life of the piston seals. Both the piston bracket and the carrier feature single piece extrusion, reducing failure points.

Tolomatic, Inc.

The ATS165 is a rugged linear stage that is suitable for applications requiring debris protection and medium travel, mid-tier positioning performance. The hardcover design provides protection from debris and the robust aluminum cover is hard-coated to provide a scratch-resistant surface. The side seals keep dirt and particulates out of the stage and protect the bearing surfaces from contamination. The vertical orientation of the seals easily deflects debris away from the stage. A stage-mounted brake option is available to prevent back driving the screw when power is removed from the servomotor with the stage in a vertical orientation. A fold-back kit is also available to effectively reduce the overall stage length for space-constrained applications.

Aerotech, Inc.

The Synchronous Serial Interface (SSI) GEMCO® 953S Series Vmax™ Linear Displacement Transducer (LDT) is designed and built to offer absolute continuous position feedback under the most extreme conditions. It is ideally suited for the most demanding process automation applications. The LDT is shock resistant to 1,000 Gs, vibration-resistant to 30 Gs and is IP68 rated. The fully digital LDT offers accurate and reliable absolute position indication with high resolution and precision repeatability. It offers up to 1 micron resolution and a stable position feedback for cable runs up to 1,200 feet from the host controller. Applications include lumber and forest products equipment, steel mills, primary and secondary metals processing such as stamping, roll forming and die-casting, rubber and plastic injection-moulding, extrusion equipment, and material handling machinery.

AMETEK Automation & Process Technologies
 

Thomson Super Ball Bushing® bearings are now available in metric sizes 16, 20, 25, 30, 40 and 50mm. These precision bearings have a coefficient of friction as low as 0.001 that allows users to employ smaller motors, belts, gears and ball screws when replacing high friction, plain bearings. They are well suited for new applications, or as a drop-in replacement for existing applications, and are dimensionally interchangeable with legacy applications. The bearings have a self-aligning capability of up to 0.5° that automatically compensates for inaccuracies in base flatness or carriage machining. They deliver acceleration rates as high as 150m/s2 and steady state travel speeds up to 3m/s without the derating factors commonly required with linear guides, and are available in adjustable, closed and open configurations. Double lip integral wipers keep contamination out and retain lubrication to maximize travel life.

Danaher Motion

Uhing "rolling ring" linear drives now feature a mechanical pitch adjustment lever enabling a variable pitch drive system without requiring gear changes or adjustment of other controls. Users adjust pitch by moving the selector lever which follows along a notched scale. Each notch on the scale is a discrete pitch setting. From notch to notch pitch changes by a factor of 0.01 on Uhing models RG15 through RG40, and by 0.02 on models RG50 through RG80. If a more precise pitch adjustment is required, a worm gear and threaded rod design bypasses the notched-scale settings. Users turn a control knob on the end of the threaded rod which permits fine tuning of linear pitch on-the-fly without stopping the drive system. Once pitch is set on a Uhing drive, it remains constant regardless of the drive motor speed or other control settings. The pitch adjustment lever eliminates the need for gear reducing devices and minimizes electronic control requirements.

Amacoil, Inc.

The P5TT and P5TD Series twin rod cylinders are designed for light-duty, non-rotational and bearing-guided linear motion applications. Designed specifically for use on conveyor equipment (stops/high-speed rejects), packaging machinery (labeling/positioning/centering functions) and assembly systems (light-duty/high-speed pick-and-place/ clamping operations), the twin rod cylinder series provides leading-edge technology to meet a wide range of applications. With a smaller footprint, the cylinders feature dual-cylinder bores to deliver maximum force in a compact, lightweight package; direct mounting of multiple actuators to optimize cost-effectiveness in multi-axis systems; and unique engineering to provide a solution for light-duty, non-rotational functions.

Parker Hannifin Corp., Actuator Division

The LoPro linear actuator line is available in four sizes and in belt, lead screw, ball screw and chain driven configurations, as well as un-driven. A complete life of new motor mounts is available to fit motors and gearboxes from any manufacturer and are supplied as a kit including shaft coupling and mounting hardware. Excellent in harsh environments, the vee design creates a velocity gradient, which results in a constant sweeping action that cleans debris from the track. And because the track is easily joined, long length systems are possible.

Bishop-Wisecarver Corporation

The Optibelt ALPHA linear ZS belts feature an easy-to-handle lock connection for the opening and closing of very long belts. The special characteristic lies in the handling and flexibility with regard to belt width, lock length, and number of individual belt fingers, which are cut with a water jet. In order to provide a stability of the locks that is adjusted to the basic belt, these connectors start from the timing profile AT10 and the smallest thread M3. Further measurements -- profile H, T20 and AT20 -- are also available on request.

Optibelt

The Kerk RGS® 10000 slide is suitable for linear motion applications, handling dynamic axial loads of up to 100 lbs. and at speeds of more than 60 ips. The slide is compact, self-contained, and both backlash and maintenance free, It is a suitable choice for demanding applications such as transportation doors actuation, materials handling, CNC routers, industrial packaging, automated cutting and slitting and large X-Y tables.

Kerk Motion Products

MISUMI offers round, square and compact flange style single or double linear ball bushings for a variety of industrial applications. These products are available standard in 52100 bearing steel (with or without electroless nickel plated surface) or 440C stainless steel cylinder and ball construction, with resin or stainless steel retainers, Nitrile rubber seals and operating temperature ranges from ­20°C to +120°C. These bearings feature tight tolerances on all critical dimensions, a necessity for handling shafts in continuous operation or rugged environments.

MISUMI USA, Inc.

Canadian Industrial Equipment News March 2008

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