Monorail linear guide for high-load applications

A new take on industrial linear motion solutions. Discover how Rollon changes the game for industrial settings requiring high load capacity, smooth motion, and high precision. With peerless material handling and wide application, Rollon’s proprietary rail systems are ideal for dynamic industrial settings.

Rollon now offers monorail linear guides for high-load applications such as machine tools. These monorail linear guides are ideal for printing and textile machinery, food processing and packaging equipment, and industrial automation for other demanding industries. This Rosa Sistemi MG Monorail line of products include heavy-duty linear rails, carriages, and internal bearing rollers engineered. They are constructed to maximize rigidity and resolve normal and moment loads in all directions.

Permitted accelerations are to 50 m/sec2 and speeds are to 3 m/sec. The precision guide system’s positional accuracy means heavy loads at high speeds are a non-issue.

Components of the monorail linear guides are fabricated as follows:

• The carriage is constructed of hardened alloy steel.
• The high-load linear guide rail is made of hardened steel.
• The rollers contained within the carriage are constructed of hardened bearing steel.

Engineered with finite-element methods, the roller ways are constructed with geometries to optimize load bearing for specific preloads. These linear guide preload options help maximize load capacity, performance, and accuracy.

In fact, the carriages have four circuits of recirculating rollers. They are suitable for various arrangements on horizontal, vertical, and cross axes. These recirculating roller circuits impart high stiffness so essential to machine tool and similar applications.

Rosa Sistemi high-load linear guides have stiffness values verified through testing that is repeated then averaged. Force is piezoelectrically measured between a hydraulic cylinder (applying force to the system) and the assembly plate to which the linear-guide carriage is fastened. With 0.1-µm resolution, an incremental optical linear encoder and strain gauges record deformation.

The result is force versus stiffness charts plotting linear-guide behavior under compression and tension.

Shown here is a stiffness chart for MG Monorail MG55LL industrial automation linear guides:

Four accuracy classes (Q0, Q1, Q2, and Q3) let engineers specify the industrial automation linear guide with tolerances suitable for the application. In addition, two different preloads let engineers increase the precision linear motion system’s stiffness. This can be done in exchange for a slight decrease in service life. Linear guide preload options include:

• Preload class P2 is 0.08 ·C where C is the dynamic load rating. P2 is typically specified where an axis needs high stiffness and is subject to moderately high loads and intermittent vibration.
• Preload class P3 is 0.13 ·C — typically specified where an axis needs maximum stiffness but is subject to impact loading, vibration, and high loads and moments.

Rosa Sistemi MG Monorail completes both the horizontal and vertical axes on this grinding machine.

Besides their high stiffness, Rosa Sistemi MG Monorail also feature simplified lubrication of carriage roller ways through lubrication ports. In fact, to maximize design flexibility for machine builders, each carriage has four lubrication ports. One port is situated on each side and end of the carriage.

Lubrication input is controlled with check microvalves on both carriage sides to prevent backflow during linear-guide operation. No matter the linear-guide orientation, professional results are all but guaranteed. The precision linear motion system lets machine operators achieve optimal roller and way lubrication. Even while using modest quantities of oil or grease, the system works flawlessly.

To complete this system, the heads of the carriage contain a gasket that seals the carriage and protects the ways. It is possible to apply additional wipers to reduce the risk of high contamination.

For more information about Rollon’s industrial linear motion solutions, visit the MG Heavy-Duty Linear Rail product page. You can also find helpful details at the myRollon page detailing the MG Monorail product.