Linear motion (also called rectilinear motion) is a one-dimensional motion along a straight line, and can therefore be described mathematically using only one spatial dimension. THK linear guide can be described as a system which uses the rotational motion principle of deeply grooved ball bearing. The the balls employed as rotating elements are set in raceways having an almost equal radius to the balls that rotate in them, the contact between the balls and the circular arc raceway is changed from conventional point contact to a line contact. In linear motion, the directions of all the vectors describing the system are equal and constant which means the objects move along the same axis and do not change direction.
THK linear motion products are used when the application needs linear movement where as THK rotation products are used when the rotational movements are needed. In THK linear motion there is range of products which are booming in engineering industry. These products are regularly used while automation of any application. Those are as follows
- LM guide
- LM Actuator
- Ball spline
- Ball screw
- LM Bush
- Automobile component
The LM Guide functions required for Linear guide surface large permissible load smooth motion with no clearance. It is highly rigid in all directions. linear Guide provides smooth linear motion based on rolling motion. THK LM Guides did used for practical usage for the first time in the world. It is realized the development of high-precision, high-rigidity, energy-saving, high-speed and long service lives machines.
LM guide actuator achieves a highly rigid and highly accurate actuator in a minimal space. It allows significant reduction of man hours and time required to design and assembly since it incorporates a support unit and a table.
There are 3 types of ball spine: high torque type, medium torque type and rotary type. You can choose a type according to intended use. In addition, wide arrays of spline nut shapes are available for each type, enabling the user to choose desired shape according to the mounting and service requirements.
A ball screw converts rotary motion into linear motion. The device consists of threaded shaft and a ball nut. The latter device rides on the screw, supported by a series of ball bearings that provide a rolling surface rather than the sliding surface of a lead screw. The balls roll between the nut and shaft since there is no sliding motion, ball screws run more efficiently than lead screws.
It is a linear guide used in combination with LM shaft that has cylindrical shaft. It makes linear movements with minimum of linear ball bushing. Linear bushings provide smooth linear motion using the rolling motion of ball bearings. Ball bushing bearing is self-aligning, light weight and adjustable with a low co-efficient of friction. THK Linear Bushing model LM is a linear motion system used in combination with cylindrical LH shaft to perform infinite straight motion.