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Thursday 26 June 2025
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Rollon Corp. celebrates 50 years and future growth with opening of new Michigan facility
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Rollon to exhibit RSN and AMTS 2025
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myRollon introduces new Configurator,  integrates rod ends product range
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myRollon introduces new Configurator, integrates rod ends product range
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Rollon expands TH actuator range with new size 200
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Rollon launches new Cobot Transfer Unit (CTU) for enhanced performance and seamless integration
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How to choose a rod end: A technical guide for design engineers
26 June 2025
How to choose a rod end: A technical guide for design engineers
Linear motion in robotics and automation: Overview and trends
15 May 2025
Linear motion in robotics and automation: Overview and trends
Cleanroom-ready linear motion, engineered for precision
17 April 2025
Cleanroom-ready linear motion, engineered for precision
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Your Challenges

Linear rails for protective doors of machine tools

Webinar

Introducing a machining centre into a production workflow is often the key to increasing the productivity and efficiency of the process, whilst at the same time ensuring the precision, repeatability and consistent quality of the machined products.

However, these are costly solutions which represent a company’s technological capital. Hence the need for anyone purchasing a machine tool to have a product which can last for a long time and ensure maximum reliability.

The protective doors of a machining centre, for example, despite being an element that is apparently external to the machine, actually play a crucial role in the operation of the machine itself. Indeed, they ensure both that the internal mechanisms are protected and, more importantly, that the external environment – where the operators work – is kept safe from the contaminants generated by machining processes, such as shavings, fine dust, and metal fragments.

That is why it is so important for them to continue to open and close smoothly and effectively over time. Any hitches in the operation of the machine’s doors would lead to a machine stoppage, with direct consequences on productivity.

What are the key features to consider when choosing the best linear motion solution?

In other words, what characteristics must a linear motion solution absolutely ensure to keep a machining centre effectively sealed? Which linear rail should a designer of machine tools choose to operate its doors?

There are many factors to take into consideration when selecting the right linear rail:

1. MANAGING MISALIGNMENTS TO REDUCE THE OVERALL COSTS OF THE APPLICATION AND REDUCE INSTALLATION TIMES

The first and most important factor is the ability of the rail itself to manage imprecisions and misalignments in the surfaces it is mounted on (in terms of both parallelism and flatness). In the case of the doors of a machining centre, we are dealing with a structure that is not particularly rigid or precise, as well as possibly having to manage significant misalignments, even of the order of a few millimetres.

This is where a self-aligning rail comes into its own as the ideal solution, as it is capable of preventing the need for costly modifications to the frame in order to increase its rigidity, or alternatively, equally costly mechanical work to the mounting surfaces. In addition, a linear rail which can manage misalignments simplifies installation, making it a great deal quicker.

2. RESISTING CORROSION TO INCREASE ITS WORKING LIFE

Another of the features to take into account is the linear rail’s resistance to the typically corrosive liquid refrigerants that the doors are designed to keep inside the machine. The availability of a range of surface treatments which can be applied to the rail is a decisive variable when selecting a solution to install, as any solution must guarantee adequate resistance characteristics, such as those offered by passivated electro-galvanisation and nickel-plating treatments

If you would like to learn more about this topic and find our how to reduce wear and tear on linear rails, read our dedicated article: “Reducing wear and tear on linear rails”.

3. REDUCING FRICTION WITH LARGER ROLLING ELEMENTS TO ENSURE A FLUID MOVEMENT AND MAXIMUM RELIABILITY

The door closing system for a machining centre is also subject to many “attacks” over the course of its lifespan. The very same contaminants that represent a risk to the operators who work around the machine can actually be deposited on the raceways of the doors, causing them to jam over time. Metal shavings, polymer dust, and even more minute particles result in increased friction, noise, and – in the long term – excessive wear and tear and blockage of the rail.

How can you solve the issue of the rail becoming blocked?

linear rails for protective doors of machine tools

By using rails with roller bearings which, thanks to the large size of the rolling elements, have no trouble overcoming any obstacles present on the raceway, thus preventing jams, additional wear and tear, or compromising the efficiency of the door closing system. What’s more, integrating an optional combined raceway lubrication and cleaning system into the slider is unquestionably a highly valuable plus which allows for the system to stay running at peak efficiency for a long time.

linear rails for protective doors of machine tools

Find out more about the advantages offered by Compact Rail, our range of rails with roller bearings, and compare them with recirculating ball bearing rails: take a look at the application examples and decide how to simplify your project, boost performance, and reduce costs.

Watch the webinar

Related product line

Select a product to learn more

Linear guides with ball bearing roller

Compact Rail & Compact Rail Plus

2
Self-aligning linear guides with bearings and a C-profile made of cold-drawn carbon steel, with induction hardened and ground raceways.

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Case Study Enabling mobility through engineering: A custom linear motion solution for a Paralympic athlete's vehicle
Case Study Midwest Engineered Systems (MWES) and Rollon: Advancing automation in heavy-duty material handling
White paper Applications for industrial grade telescopic rails
How to How to choose a rod end: A technical guide for design engineers
White paper Applications for industrial grade telescopic rails
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How to How to choose a rod end: A technical guide for design engineers
Application Special Movements
Application Seat adjustment, sliding table
Application Battery box extraction
Application Internal doors
Application Platform screen doors
How to How to choose a rod end: A technical guide for design engineers
White paper Linear motion in robotics and automation: Overview and trends
Case Study Case study: Rod ends for automatic packaging machines
Case Study Rollon helps AMP Automation to automate the palletizing process for a pet supplies company
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How to How to choose a rod end: A technical guide for design engineers
Application SFC and Business Class seat
White paper White Paper: Preventing corrosion with stainless-steel and other motion components
White paper White Paper: linear and curvilinear guides and systems for architectural and furnishing applications
Application Vertical sliding foot guard
Application Sliding window
Application Sliding pool cover
Application Wall aquarium slide out
Case Study Enabling mobility through engineering: A custom linear motion solution for a Paralympic athlete's vehicle
White paper White Paper: Preventing corrosion with stainless-steel and other motion components
Case Study Case study: Rod ends for agricultural machines
Application Display slide out
Application Interior drawers
Application Opening door system
White paper Linear motion in robotics and automation: Overview and trends
Tech Talks Cleanroom-ready linear motion, engineered for precision
White paper Choosing linear motion components for medical equipment
White paper White Paper: Preventing corrosion with stainless-steel and other motion components
Application Linear movement in the pharmaceutical and medical industry: the seventh axis for clean rooms
Application X-Ray Machine
Tech Talks Cleanroom-ready linear motion, engineered for precision
Case Study High-tech distributor taps Rollon for electronics machine
Case Study How Rollon actuators helped a Korean multinational corporation automate its battery cell manufacturing process
White paper Applications for industrial grade telescopic rails
Case Study CNC Solutions and Rollon: Advancing robotic automation for heavy-duty applications
White paper Differences between ball screws for heavy equipment, automation, and machine tools
Report Monorail linear guide for high-load applications
How to How to choose a rod end: A technical guide for design engineers
White paper Linear motion in robotics and automation: Overview and trends
Case Study Midwest Engineered Systems (MWES) and Rollon: Advancing automation in heavy-duty material handling
White paper Applications for industrial grade telescopic rails
Case Study Automating a production line for the transport and machining of electrical wires
Case Study CNC Solutions and Rollon: Advancing robotic automation for heavy-duty applications

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