The difference between linear bearings and linear guides

Linear bearings are a low-cost linear motion system used in conjunction with cylindrical shafts for infinite travel. Due to the point contact between the bearing ball and the shaft, the load is small, and the steel ball rotates with minimal frictional resistance, achieving high-precision and smooth motion. Linear bearings are widely used in electronic devices, tensile testing machines, digital 3D coordinate measuring equipment, and other fine equipment, as well as sliding parts of industrial machinery such as multi axis machine tools, punch presses, east-west grinders, active gas cutting machines, printers, card sorting machines, food packaging machines, etc.

Linear guide rail and linear bearing are fundamentally two product accessories. Linear guide rail is an accessory for transmitting motion, and the reciprocating linear motion from a specified point to the next point is the guide rail. The appearance of linear bearings is significantly different from that of linear guides. Linear bearings operate in a cylindrical shape by relying on the linear optical axis (including various flange linear bearing blocks), the linear guide optical axis, and the linear circular guide rail (including the sliding unit of the linear guide bearing seat assembly and the flange type guide shaft support).

Linear guide rail and linear guide rail bearing are fundamentally two product accessories. Linear guide rail is an accessory for transmitting motion, and the reciprocating linear motion from a specified point to the next point is a guide rail. The appearance of linear guide rail bearing is significantly different from that of the outside of linear guide rail: the guide shaft of linear guide rail bearing is in the shape of a rolling barrel. The axis of the linear guide is a square structure.

The linear optical axis is a linear motion system used in conjunction with a cylindrical shaft for linear bearings, as the bearing ball comes into contact with the outer sleeve of the bearing, causing the steel ball to roll with minimal frictional resistance. Therefore, the linear optical axis has low friction and is relatively stable, not changing with the bearing speed, and can achieve stable linear motion with high sensitivity and accuracy. The consumption of the linear optical axis also has its limitations, mainly due to the poor impact load capacity of the linear bearing. And its load-bearing capacity is also poor. Secondly, linear bearings have significant vibration and noise during high-speed motion.

Linear guide bearings and linear guides have similar functions, both supporting and guiding, with the primary difference being the device location. Linear guide bearings are generally fixed at both ends, with the central suspended connecting component covering all or most of the radial direction of the optical axis. Linear guide bearings are generally fixed with bolts, with one side tightly attached to the equipment base.