Moving experience

Today there is a huge choice of linear motion systems available from many different manufacturers and suppliers. Many of these can be seen as similar in terms of performance and functionality, making it difficult to select an appropriate solution on any basis other than cost, or possibly a headline performance figure.

But according THK UK's technical manager Bob Love, cost should be only one of a number of factors on which a purchasing decision is based. He maintains that it is important to both understand the key specification quoted by suppliers and to appreciate the fact that the same specification can be interpreted or quoted differently by separate ones.

'In addition, although some of the information in linear motion product catalogues is generally detailed and accurate, there are often terms or definitions required for accurate product specification that are not always clear,' he said.

One of these, he said, is dynamic load rating, which illustrates the capacity of the product and ultimately helps to determine the service life of a linear motion system when a specific dynamic load is applied from above (radial), below (reverse radial), or from the side (lateral).