Overview°
Profile guide rails: Reliable and flexible
What is the difference between a profile guide rail and a profile rail?
The function of profile guide rails
What are the advantages of profile guide rails?
Overview of the°norelem° range of profile guide rails
Stainless steel or steel profile guide rails
Profile guide rails for the correct application area
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Profile guide rails: Reliable and flexible
Various machine components are essential for efficient every day work in industry. Profil guide rails are used for linear motion in material handling, assembly and automation technology.
Here, you will find all the relevant information on profile guide rails to help selecting the correct product.
What is the difference between a profile guide rail and a profile rail?
The terms profile guide rail and profile rail are often mistakenly used interchangeably.
A profile guide rail is a complete motion system consisting of a rail and the carriage that runs along it. They contain recirculating rolling elements (balls or rollers) within the carriage. This enables low-friction, straight line movement of loads.
The profile rail is°the°rigid, lateral base section with the tracks. The profile rail has no moving parts and serves as a rigid track on the machine bed.
How do profile guide rails work?
The basic components of profile guide rails are the profile rail, the guide carriage, the rolling elements (balls or rollers) between the rail and the carriage, the recirculation system which circulates the rolling elements during a load travel and seals that protect the interior from dirt.
During profile guide rail use, the rolling elements roll along the hardened track of the rail, enabling the guide to withstand heavy forces from various directions. As the carriage moves forwards and backwards, the rolling elements travel through the load zone and are recirculated back inside the carriage.
What are the advantages of profile guide rails?
Profile guide rails from°norelem°offer very high precision, rigidity and load capacity with a compact design. They can absorb forces from multiple directions and exhibit a distinctive dynamic during operation, even by rapid movements. Thanks to a built-in°lubrication technique,° the profile guide systems running on rails are°extremely low maintenance°and are designed for uninterrupted operation at temperatures of up to 80° C.
If not used properly – i.e. with incorrect alignment – the performance can be effected. That is why precision construction is necessary to prevent stresses.
When using profile guide rails over a long time, the following should ensured:
clean mounting surfaces
parallel alignment
correct tightening torque
regular checks
An overview of the norelem range of profile guide rails
norelem°steel profile guide rails feature induction-hardened and ground tracks. These are arranged at an angle of 45°. Rows of balls distribute the loads evenly. The rows of balls, which distribute the loads evenly, enable the system to withstand high loads from all directions.
The profile guide rails, which are be screwed down from above, are available in four different sizes. The length can be cut to the size required (up to 3,690 mm).
Depending on requirements and space constraints, four different types of guide carriages (from°standard°to°compact) are available, made from QT steel and fitted with ball bearing steel balls. The standard carriages are available with recirculating ball guides precision N without preload (Z0). Higher levels of accuracy and pre-stressing can be provided on request. The°norelem°profile guide systems correspond to the market standard and can easily replace linear guides of the same design by other manufacturers.
When are miniature profile guide rails the correct choice?
The°norelem°range also includes miniature profile guide rails consisting of°miniature profile guide rails°and°miniature carriages. These are used primarily where very little installation space is available and simultaneously precise guidance is required.
With the miniature profile guide rails, four miniature sizes are available onto which one or more guide carriages can be mounted. This is a 4-point contact recirculating ball system with equal load angles and 2 ball circuits per carriage. Thus loads can be uniformly absorbed from all sides. The maximum acceleration is 80 m/s² and the maximum travel speed is 3 m/s. The profile guide rails can always be joined together.
The°norelem°range of guide carriages
In addition to miniature guide carriages, the°norelem°range includes other types of guide carriage.
The tracks of the profile rails for each guide carriage are arranged at an angle of 45° and can therefore absorb loads from all directions. The guide carriages have a precision grade of H without load, an end seal both ends, a round-arch profile and a 4-row version. They also feature high dynamic performance of v = 5 m/s and a permanent operating temperature of 80 °C.
Material properties: Profile guide rails made from stainless steel or steel
Within the profile guide rail category,°norelem°offers products made from both QT steel and stainless steel.
QT steel is characterised by high strength which is achieved through heat treatment and can withstand heavy loads, whilst stainless steel is very hygienic, highly corrosion-resistant and virtually rust-free.
For applications involving components subject to high loading, QT steel versions should be the preferred choice; this is standard practice in machine construction. Where the environment requires a high standard of cleanliness and hygiene, such as in the chemical or foodstuff industries, stainless steel should be chosen.
Profile guide rails for the correct application
Profile guide rails offer a precise and robust solution for linear motion in a wide variety of applications within machine and plant construction, e.g. for the following sectors:
Machine tools
Handling systems
Material flow°
Assembly and automation technology
Measurement technology
Robotics
Semiconductor industry
Depending on the requirements regarding installation space and permissible load, various designs of profile rails and guide carriages are available. The correct combination of components helps to ensure reliable operation.
With a profile guide rail system tailored to the specific application, a wide variety of projects can be successfully carried out.