Monorail Guidance Systems Reference Guide Now Available

A free, 480-page reference guide to monorail guidance systems – including linear recirculating roller bearing guideways, linear recirculating ball bearing guideways and linear guidance systems with linear recirculating ball bearing units, as well as a comprehensive range of accessories – is now available from Schaeffler UK.

As well as providing technical data on individual products, the ‘Monorail Guidance Systems’ catalogue also includes useful information for design engineers, including load carrying capacities, basic life ratings, preload, friction, special coatings, lubrication options and fitting instructions.

Schaeffler’s range of INA-branded monorail guidance systems is ideal for guidance and precision positioning applications. The units are compact, complete linear guidance systems that are maintenance-free for most applications. The units benefit from high rigidity and load carrying capacities and support loads from all directions, except in the direction of motion.

The units can be supplied in various preload and accuracy classes. In most ranges, the carriages and guideways can be used in any combination within the same accuracy class. This gives the customer a great deal of design flexibility, as well as simplified fitting and reduced stocks of guidance systems.

The linear recirculating ball bearing units come in two-, four- and six-row versions. For extreme operating conditions, Schaeffler also offers a range of special coatings and materials, which are designed to increase the life of standard components and to improve their reliability. The coatings available are Corrotect® (thin anti-corrosion coating with cathodic protection and black chromate passivation), ‘Protect A’ (thin film chromium, for applications in the food industry) and ‘Protect B’ (thin film chromium).

On the four-row linear recirculating ball bearing and guideway assemblies, special materials are also available. All metal parts can be made from corrosion-resistant martensitic steel. The customer can also choose units with a very low magnetic permeability.

Where robust construction is required, the customer can specify end pieces that are made from corrosion-resistant steel. This is resistant to gamma radiation and is suitable for use in vacuum and clean room applications.

Ceramic rolling elements in hybrid bearings are also an option, offering high hardness, electrical insulation and resistance to rust.