Load handling in linear guide systems

2024-05-08

The number of carriages and guide rails in an application has a major impact on how the linear guide performs. We're talking about load capacity, rigidity, running accuracy, lubrication, and even cost.

More carriages also mean more demands on the overall machine design—especially when it comes to the required flatness and precision of the mounting surfaces.

Both the number of carriages per rail and the number of rails can vary depending on the setup. For lighter loads, you might only need one rail and one carriage. For heavier loads, a single rail with two carriages might be sufficient.

If you’re only using one rail, arranging the carriages in an O-configuration will give you better rigidity compared to an X-configuration.

In setups where side moments are present, a single rail can sometimes feel a bit “springy.” That’s when two parallel railsare usually a better choice.

One of the most common configurations is two parallel rails, each with two carriages. This setup handles loads from all directions while delivering high accuracy and great stability.

There are excellent calculation tools available to help you choose the best setup for your application. One great example is the Linear Motion Designer (LMD) from Bosch Rexroth.

Check out this video on the topic, again featuring Carry Lindholm from Bosch Rexroth: