Double Rail Linear System Offers Unlimited Travel with Low Cost
Aug. 6, 2007
Related To: Tusk Direct Inc
Tusk Direct adapts its linear bearing shafting products to a new double rail system that offers the benefit of a complete linear bearing guide system of any length at low cost. Tusk’s ERL double rail guide system utilizes Tusk’s hardened and ground shafting products suitable for all linear bearing applications requiring accuracy and long life. The guide rails consist of two precision hardened and ground shafts 12mm diameter predrilled with M5 threaded holes spaced 100 mm apart. The shaft material is case hardened to RC 62. The two shafts are pulled together by the support block design insuring that they are parallel to less than or equal to 0.02mm/1mm and easily assembled. The aluminum support blocks, ERLB $3.00 each, have two holes spaced 28mm apart for easy mounting and come with fasteners to attach to the mounting surface. The support blocks can be set at increments of 100mm apart depending on the size of the load. This low cost solution to linear motion guide applications makes designing for reasonably accurate and very long length requirements possible without the work of modifying and assembling complicated and expensive guide rail systems. A complete 400mm linear rail system can be configured for as little as $131.00. The steel shafts can be staggered on the mounts in order to extend the length indefinitely. Maximum linear speed for the units is up to 10m per second. The shafts come in standard lengths of 400mm, @ $13.00 each, through 3000mm length @$85.00 each. Each rail system requires two shafts. Tusk ERL guides work with either of two standard carriage configurations, either a roller bearing carriage or a recirculating ball bearing design. The ERC2011 roller carriage, @$ 98.00 each, is a robust sealed bearing system with V-grooved rollers that is preload adjustable and has predrilled mounting holes on the carriage surface for easy adaptation to the application. The carriage has four factory preloaded rollers two of which are eccentric to provide the on rail adjustment. Each roller uses a sealed precision bearing that is lubricated for life. The carriage mounting plate is hardened and ground steel with 4 M6 threaded mounting holes. Dynamic loads up to 308 lbs. and significant moment load capabilities are available. The alternative carriage option ERC3003, @$93.00 each, is a recirculating ball bearing design that consists of a milled aluminum block with a steel core with 3.5mm balls rolling in four raceways. The mounting surface provides T slots for M6 fasteners for easy adaptation to the customer’s application. The ERC3003 carriages are provided with standard wipers and lubrication ports. ERC3003 carriages have a dynamic load rating of 352lbs.