Linear guides are an indispensable part of modern mechanical equipment and are widely used in automation equipment, CNC machine tools, robots and other fields. In order to ensure the effective operation of linear guides, lubrication is a very important part. This article will explore the lubrication of linear guides in depth and comprehensively analyze its impact on equipment performance and service life.
1. Linear Rail Lubrication
The lubrication of linear guides is a new type of lubricating component that is formed by a porous polymer material and lubricating grease. It is installed at both ends of the slider and continuously releases fresh lubricating oil through contact with the groove surface of the guide rail, thereby achieving self-lubrication of the guide rail.
2. Self Lubricating Characteristics of Linear Rails
Customers can easily install or replace them by themselves. When replacing a new self-lubricating system, there is no need to remove the slider. The oil cotton has a high oil content, which effectively extends the relubrication interval, and the replenishment interval can reach 4,000km. Through the optimized oil film forming method, the waste of lubricating oil is reduced and environmental pollution is prevented. The use of high-performance lubricating oil that meets ISO3448 viscosity grade 680 can make the lubricating oil perfectly compatible with the slider.
Note that the allowable temperature range is: -10~50⁰C (continuous operation) or -10~80⁰C.
3. Selection of Linear Guide Grease
The previous article detailed the role, types, usage, selection and maintenance of linear guide grease, which can be reviewed.
In addition, when selecting linear rail lubrications, it is usually necessary to consider its operating speed, load size, friction coefficient, oxidation resistance and adhesion. The following are some specific selection criteria:
Speed Factor: Linear guides with high-speed movement should choose high-speed grease; those with low-speed movement can consider using grease with higher viscosity.
Load Factor: Under heavy load conditions, extreme pressure grease should be selected; under light load conditions, ordinary grease can be selected.
Special Requirements: In special environments such as medical equipment, food-grade grease may be required to meet hygiene and safety requirements.
Lubrication Method: According to the design of the linear guide and the lubrication method (such as oil lubrication or grease lubrication), select the corresponding lubricant or grease.
4. Why is there Still Wear after Selecting a Self-Lubricating Linear Guide?
Generally, self-lubricating linear guides can achieve more than 20,000 km of lubrication-free maintenance with built-in oil alone. If short-term wear occurs, it may be due to the following two reasons:
- The Temperature is too High
The maximum operating temperature of the built-in self-lubricating linear guide is 80°C. If this temperature is exceeded, the oil inside the self-lubricating module will seep out faster, thereby shortening the lubrication life.
- The Stroke is too Short
If the slider is running with a short stroke, the rolling element cannot circulate inside the slider for a circle, and the oil in the linear rail lubrication module cannot be brought out, which may cause unlubricated micro-motion wear (about micro-motion wear, we will talk about it in detail later). It is recommended that the stroke should be more than 3 times the length of the slider so that the grease can be applied to all rolling elements.
Summary
Linear rail lubrication has a profound impact on the performance and service life of the equipment. Choosing the right lubricant and regular maintenance can significantly improve the reliability and production efficiency of the equipment.
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