Plastic cover/caps for linear rail

[wcarrothers1]

Hello..

I'm using some very large linear rail on my current machine. When I got them I got several plastic caps to cover the hex screws which hold the rails on. But I'm a few short.

Basicly they are just plastic cap things which fit into the counter sink hole where that screw goes. They are .589 or 15mm in diameter and maybe 4.4M or .173 tall. with a flat top so the scraper of the liner slide can slide over them. Baislcy to cover up the hole that the 8mm linear rail allen head bolt is counter sunk into.

Didn't know if anyone had a source for something like that. Was thinking that might be something that mcmaster might have but not having success finding there.

b.

[ger21]

If they're Hiwin's, it looks like Automation 4 less has them, but they're not cheap. Old post, though.
Caps for screw on linear rail

I was thinking of filling them with silicone and shaving it flush with a razor blade after it hardens. Maybe use a mold release in the holes so it can be removed easier if needed?

I have a pair of 67" rails on the way and still need to order a pair of 84" rails, so I'll have a lot of holes to fill as well.

[wcarrothers1]

Silicone sounds like a great idea. Was thinking that I would maybe pop out the ones in my x axis length that face down and would not fill up anyway and use those for the Y but they also serve to hold the grease in.

Will try the silicone..

b.

[packrat]

When I was still working we used cup style freeze/welch plugs for a car engine to fill counterbores in the molds, to keep material from getting in them. To remove we drilled a hole and drove a sheet metal screw in and that would jack the plug out.

The plugs come in many diameters and can be found a most auto parts stores.

[Regnar]

Put a light coat of petroleum jelly in the holes. It will make releasing the silicone that much easier down the road and will still seal up the area. When I say light I mean the surface has a sheen and there is no buggers or globs of the stuff.