What linear setup to use.

[Apples]

What type of linear setup should i use. I want good to very good accuracy.

Having said that i don't want to pay $500 a meter for thk rails when my table is 3.5m x 2m. So what are the IGUS systems like, and price. And how are the v bearings.

How easy are they to roll or push once setup and on a gantry? Can some one give me some prices on the different systems available. What kind of accuracy could i expect to get over my full length travel of 3.5meters?

Apples

[Moondog]

Hello Apples.

I am about to use the Igus Linear T System for my project. The Igus sytem has greater load capacity than the THK style of bearing, is easly adjustable, no lubrication, not affected by dust etc. Whilst I haven't yet put them to use I am confident they will be well suited to a CNC router project. And they are cheaper...

[BigDaddyG]

Hey all! I have been using Igus now for a year or more and have them on several machines with great success! I am very happy with the results and even more so the price. I have been designing and building Automation and Robotics now in excess of 20 years and these new style bearing / rail combo's are a welcome change as I try to build things for customers and bring down the price. I have been using the Drylin rail carriage combo for a lathe bed on a new series of machines I am building and so far so good! Some change is good! Good luck!
Glen

[Chagrin]

Which of the Igus systems are you using, BigDaddy? I've been eyeballing the "W" but would like to hear more input.

[BigDaddyG]

Chagrin,
Yepper, I have been using the W and with great results. I needed to manufacture a lathe base and 2 axis cnc (custom inlay machine), and used the Drylin carriage and rail combo. I needed 32-34" of travel and purchased (2) 1000mm rails (dual rail) and (2) large carriage's. One was used for the lathe bed, and the other for the long axis NC / Motor Driven (screw - Nook precision lead screw, another story and another great value). Both with great results.

I just took a quick look and could not find the actual po, but think I paid somewhere around 120.00 per axis. The track is a anodized aluminum, so some care has to be taken to protect it from "Impact", but handles dust and grime just fine. Just don't throw you tools down on them and they will last for ever. The loads that they carry are superior to any out there, the cost is a fraction and I could not be happier!

I also have used the rail systems they sell with great results too. I do like the fact that the bearing surface material is easily changed out. The rails I mentioned above, the bearing surface material cost $4.00 a piece and takes minutes to change (but have yet to change one).

I hope I have helped.

Glen

[Kemper73]

That price is pretty good,,,

I was also looking a the W sections and the N sections (which I think are even cheaper) ,, but what would be really nice (especially for the Z) would be one of thier HTS slide tables,, I could attach the slider to the Y axis,, and then the router to the one of the ends,,, and the stepper on the other end,, Any ideas what kind of price tag the HTS has on it...

Thanks

[ljoe1969]

gotta link?

[BigDaddyG]

Kemper,
If you go to Igus's web site (www.igus.com) they have a price listing of all there stuff. They also provide 2D and 3D Files (I am a Design Engineer so this is very handy) if your doing your machines in CAD first. The quote will provide you with all the contact information, pricing and part numbers based on your requirments. The stuff is shipped out of New Jersey I think, I get it in a few days in Sunny Fla!

Another plus, I once ordered a "Mid-sized" carriage for a W slide, they did not have any in stock and I got the larger size up-grade for free, with a option to send it back at there expense if I needed the less expensive, smaller size. I really appreciate a sales force that goes out of the way to make the customer happy, it is just another plus about this product. Good luck!
Glen

[Cliff_J]

For those of you who have used this system, what is the force needed to move these carriages with light loading (say under 40lbs for my gantry)? In non-technical talk, I'd assume its not as easy as if the weight were on some plain rollerblade bearing on a smooth surface, but it might be similar to a THK with the stiction from the preloaded balls and wipers?

This looks like a good economical choice and it handles dust and dirt well.

The sales force is friendly too. Oh, and the slide tables are suppossed to be very spendy and are not really in-stock right now - I guess they're pretty new and supply is low. Once I heard expensive I forget the rest...but you get the jist of it.

At these prices, I'm really tempted to just order a single rail for a z-axis setup and see how well it works myself. My only reservation was the guy I talked to said he thought it wouldn't slide as well as a ball bearing and would have more friction. I'm just trying to figure out if this means it will still be as good as a standard thompson style bearing on a smooth shaft or have even more friction. Any feedback would be helpful.

Cliff

[Apples]

i have pushed a igus carrage along a slide at a show. yes there was a bit of force needed. probably the same force needed to push a 2litre milk bottle across a table.

[BigDaddyG]

Cliff,
Yes, there is some difference between a linear roller bearing and a drylin, but the difference is negligible. I have used them many time and for several applications, and all good results. In most cases, at least for me, I over estimate - over calculate my forces and thus have never had a problem. In one case I used them as a Lathe bed for a manual system (I made a manual lathe to handle a particular application) and it worked very well and is still in use.

Other cases I have used them along with motor, lead screw - NC and again, very positive results and the motors sure don't seem to work any harder when I use linear roller bearings. I am in the middle of building a machine right now in my garage and have some rail and carriage. I could place a load of 40lbs on there and give you a rough idea of how much force is needed to move it along if it would help you? This machine is going to carry a load of about 20lbs (router, z-axis and tooling) along a 1000mm (39") travel. I am very sure the added weight will make no significant difference in performance. I am driving the axis with a 5/8" Nook Precision Lead Screw. The motors are smaller (I am guessing 68oz/in) and I am cutting hard woods with no problem at all. While I am at it, Have you looked at the Nook line of Precision Lead Screws? They have a +/-.003 per foot, and the cost for my application is less than $50.00 per axis. Having been a Mechanical Engineer for 20+ years I can tell you that the screws you buy and pay top dollar for are the usually made on the same machines, the only difference being the testing/certifications that come with the screws drive the added pricing.

Let me know what you find out and if you wish me to do a test of the rail for you! I would be happy to help, but I am not going to be able to get at it till Sunday afternoon (playing Golf in the morning). Good luck and let me know if I can help any more.
Glen

[JRoque]

Hi, so is this stuff really as stiff as the THK rails? I'm running on THK now and have been very impressed on how solid they are. However I do agree the THK price is a killer.

I need to run 40" (1016mm) on X and Y but need the trucks to hold the load very steady with no play. I know THK does this, can Igus? What about angled/reversed forces? Hmm maybe I should give them a call...

Cheers,
Julio