DE102012221203A1 - Linear guide arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

Linear guide arrangement, comprising a rail component and a slide guided on the rail component, the slide (2) consisting of a support body (24) made of plastic which is covered on the outside with a metal coating (27).

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a linear guide arrangement, comprising a rail component and a carriage guided on the rail component.

Background of the invention

Such linear guide assemblies are used in many areas where Stellaufgaben are to be processed. They make it possible to perform defined linear movements in order to bring a coupled to the carriage component in a defined position. Increasingly, there are applications that require only relatively small, limited strokes, and in which only relatively small loads are moving. Examples are applications in the field of product electronics, there mainly at placement machines, or in the field of medical technology, there for example, analysis equipment, where appropriate to be analyzed samples and the like to move. Often, dynamic movements are required, which means that the slide must be moved and guided very quickly and with high basic acceleration, but with the same high precision.

In addition to the rail component, the slide is usually also a metal component, which is machined to form the relevant geometries, be it in the rolling area or in the area of attachment to moving third-party objects, which is expensive. In addition, especially when using steel, the weight of the carriage is considerable. To reduce weight, therefore, correspondingly additional machining steps are often required to work out weight-reducing recesses and the like. This is also disadvantageous because consuming.

Summary of the invention

The invention is therefore based on the problem to provide a linear guide arrangement, which is improved in contrast.

To solve this problem is provided according to the invention in a linear guide assembly of the type mentioned that the carriage consists of a supporting body made of plastic, which is externally covered with a metal coating.

In the linear guide assembly according to the invention, a special, very lightweight carriage is used. It consists of a supporting body made of plastic, thus therefore made of a, compared to metal and especially steel, very light material. In order to give the carriage a sufficient rigidity, the plastic support body is on the outside with a metal coating, which is preferably applied on all sides occupied. This metal coating is selected with regard to the materials or the coating thickness such that the plastic support body has the required rigidity, which is comparable to the corresponding metal slide, at least aluminum. The metal layer thus acts as a shell and gives the carriage a stiffness, nevertheless the carriage is still significantly lighter than a metal carriage, especially as an already relatively lightweight aluminum carriage.

Preferably, the plastic is fiber and / or particle-reinforced, in particular glass ball reinforced. By this fiber or particle reinforcement, the rigidity of the plastic carrier body is already significantly increased, compared with the pure, unreinforced plastic material. By interaction with the shell-like metal coating thus results in a total of the required stiffness readily having slide.

As described, the metal coating is preferably applied on all sides, thus completely encapsulating the carriage, so that the given rigidity is given in any reference direction.

The thickness of the metal coating should be in the range of 20-200 microns, in particular, it should have a maximum of 100 microns. Relatively small layer thicknesses, in particular those of less than 100 .mu.m, are particularly readily usable if the plastic is correspondingly fiber and / or particle-reinforced.

Expediently, the metal coating consists of a first metal layer applied directly to the carrier body and a second metal layer applied thereto. The first metal layer is used to connect the metal coating on the support body, preferably for this purpose a copper layer is applied, for example by sputtering. In particular copper can be applied very well on a plastic surface.

The second metal layer is a metal layer, which may preferably be electrodeposited. It may be a single metal layer, but also conceivable are layers consisting of different elements, such as Zn-Cu, Pb-Zn-Cu, and the like.

Short description of the drawing

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing and will be described in more detail below. Show it:

1 a partially sectioned perspective view of a linear guide assembly according to the invention,

2 an exploded view of the essential elements of the linear guide assembly 1 .

3 a perspective view of the closed linear guide assembly,

4 a sectional view through part of the linear guide assembly in the rolling bearing with rolling element rows used, but not yet used career components,

5 a view according to 4 with inserted raceway components, and

6 a sectional view through the carriage according to the invention 1

Detailed description of the drawing

1 shows a linear guide arrangement according to the invention 1 comprising a carriage 2 which can be connected to a third object to be positioned or moved, for example a tool or sample carrier or the like. The sled 2 is on a rail component 3 linearly guided over a Wälzkörperlagerung to be described below. He can over any drive 4 , For example, an electric, pneumatic or purely mechanical drive such as Bowden cable or the like, are moved and linear relative to the rail component 3 be moved. The concrete design of the drive 4 is ultimately arbitrary, as long as the drive on the one hand with the carriage 2 can be coupled and on the other hand allows a corresponding linear movement of the same.

At the rail component 3 , which consists for example of steel, are on a projecting web 5 on both sides of careers 6 formed, so formed there directly, for example, by machining. On these careers 6 roll in the mounted state rolling elements 7 off, here bullets in a cage 8th , which is designed as a linear, rail-like cage recorded. Because on both sides of the shoulder 5 raceways 6 are provided, are therefore also two such rows of rolling elements 9 comprising the cage 8th and the rolling elements 7 intended.

The rolling elements 7 are on the other side on sled on track components 10 counteracted, these career components 10 provide the second raceway for the rows of rolling elements 9 to disposal. In the example shown are the career components 10 by means of oblong needles 11 formed, the fixed position on the carriage 2 are defined in appropriate recordings. The career components 10 So here are the needles 11 , for example, are also made of steel, they are made of a harder material than the slide 2 even where they are recorded. The sled 2 is what hereafter 6 will be discussed, a plastic component, such as an injection molded component. It can be carried out in particular in the application described here from this material, since the carriage itself undergoes no rolling contact, as described, the rows of rolling elements 9 on the raceway components 10 roll off. Since the sled 2 is made of a softer material, it is suitably dimensioned so that after complete assembly, the two rows of rolling elements 9 defined against the raceways 6 on the rail component 3 are biased.

Around the row of rolling elements 9 as well as the career components 10 in the narrow space between the rail component 3 and the sled 2 to use is in the axial extension of this gap an opening 12 provided over which the rows of rolling elements 9 and career components 10 pushed axially and can be used in the appropriate position. The opening 12 becomes after assembly of all elements over a closing element 13 , here's a kind of lid, here on the sled 2 clipped, screwed or can also be glued, be closed.

As 1 finally shows is on the sled 2 on the one hand, a damping element 14 provided that the stop of the carriage 2 on the rail component 3 attenuates. Further, a fixing portion 15 provided, on which the already described tool or the like, the already described tool or the like, via the carriage 2 to move, can be attached.

While 1 the inventive linear guide assembly in a perspective view, partially in section, shows 2 an exploded view of the essential, relevant for the rolling bearing components. From this you can also see the assembly order. After the sled 2 slid onto the rail component and positioned over the opening 12 first the cages 8th together with the rolling elements 7 in the area between rail component 3 and sledges 2 inserted. Subsequently, the career components 10 inserted, whereby due to the softness of the carriage, a defined bias of the rows of rolling elements 9 to the rail component 3 results. To a wandering of the career components 10 to prevent, then the opening 12 over the closure element 13 closed, this for example, a latching section 16 which is attached to a latching shoulder 17 on the sledge 2 latched, which in addition via a fastening screw 19 (please refer 3 ) the closure element 13 can be permanently attached.

The thus assembled linear guide 1 is in 3 shown where also the attachment section 15 for a possible tool or a sample holder, etc. can be seen.

The 4 and 5 finally show two sectional views showing different mounting situations.

4 shows the situation in which the rows of rolling elements 9 comprising the two cages 8th together with the rolling elements used therein 7 over the opening 12 to look at the 4 and 5 looks directly into the space between the rail component 3 respectively the footbridge 5 and the sled 2 are used. The jetty 5 points, see in 4 the right half of the picture, a stop 20 on, the career 6 (see the partially cut zone in the left half of the picture in 4 ) axially limited. As can be seen from this partially sectioned view, the rolling elements 7 loosely picked up, they lie on the track 6 at.

Now be over the opening 12 the raceway elements 10 inserted. On the carriage for this purpose are receiving sections 21 formed in their shape the shape of the track components 10 , here the circular needles in cross-section 11 , Are executed accordingly, so that there is a positive reception. The recording sections 21 are formed over corresponding longitudinal bores and shoulders 22 undercut on both sides, so that a secure position-fixed fixation of the needles 11 he follows.

Now become the needles 11 in the receiving sections 21 pushed in, then over this the rolling elements 7 against the respective career 6 pressed so that it comes to the rolling contact there. The opposite rolling contact becomes, see 5 , about each two needles 11 realized. Since the sled 2 from one opposite the needles 11 softer material, such as plastic or metal casting, is thus given a certain slide-side elasticity, which makes it possible that the rolling elements 7 under tension against the raceways 6 are pressed, so that consequently arise on both sides of preloaded Wälzkörpersysteme.

Finally, the show 4 and 5 still the threaded hole 23 in which the fixing screw 19 for fixing the closure element 13 is screwed in.

Although in the figures two career components 10 in the form of the needles 11 are shown for forming the respective raceway, it is of course also possible to perform in their place only a one-piece, designed as a wider rail component having a corresponding groove, roll on the edges of the rolling elements has. Again, this could easily fit in the receiving space in the carriage 2 taken respectively over the opening 12 be inserted.

Furthermore, it is conceivable, unlike shown in the figures, a career directly on the carriage 2 , which is then made of metal such as steel or the like, and to define the or the raceway components on the rail component, which would then consist of the softer material, as it is also conceivable, both on the carriage 2 as well as on the rail component 3 corresponding bearing components 10 to position, then the rail component as well as the carriage would be made of softer material.

6 shows a sectional view through the carriage 2 , The slide shown here as a schematic diagram 2 consists of a supporting body 24 made of plastic, in the example shown fibers 25 (eg glass fibers or metal fibers) and glass beads 26 are introduced for reinforcement. It does not have to be introduced both types of particles, in principle it is also possible, only fibers 25 or just glass balls 26 or to introduce instead of the glass beads particles of other materials, such as ceramic particles.

On the outside is the support body 24 , preferably on all sides, with a metal coating 27 busy. This consists of a first, directly on the plastic support body 24 applied metal layer 28 , preferably by sputtering applied copper layer. On top of this is an outer second metal layer 29 applied, which is preferably an electrodeposited metal layer, for example, a layer of galvanic nickel. The metal layer 27 So encapsulates the support body 2 completely and on all sides, about which it, in particular in connection with the fiber and particle reinforcement, gives it the required rigidity.

Although in 6 clearly exaggerated, is the layer thickness of the metal coating 27 relatively low. It is in the range of 20-200 microns, preferably it is at most 100 microns.

The plastic support body 24 in turn consists of any engineering plastic, which is preferably processed in a spraying process for contouring. To name just here by way of example polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate or polytetrafluoroethylene, this list is not exhaustive.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

 Linear guide arrangement

2

 carriage

3

 rail member

4

 drive

5

 web

6

 raceways

7

 rolling elements

8th

 Cage

9

 rows of rolling elements

10

 Race members

11

 needles

12

 opening

13

 closure element

14

 damping element

15

 attachment section

16

 detent portion

17

 locking shoulder

19

 fixing screw

20

 attack

21

 receiving portions

22

 Shoulder

23

 threaded hole

24

 supporting body

25

 fibers

26

 glass beads

27

 metal coating

28

 metal layer

Claims (9)

Linear guide arrangement comprising a rail component and a guided on the rail component carriage, characterized in that the carriage ( 2 ) from a support body ( 24 ) made of plastic, the outside with a metal coating ( 27 ) is occupied. Linear guide arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the plastic fiber and / or particle-reinforced, in particular glass ball reinforced. Linear guide arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the metal coating ( 27 ) is applied on all sides. Linear guide arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the metal coating ( 27 ) has a thickness of 20-200 μm, in particular of not more than 100 μm. Linear guide arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the metal coating ( 27 ) from a directly on the support body ( 24 ) applied first metal layer ( 28 ) and a second metal layer ( 29 ) consists. Linear guide arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that the first metal layer ( 28 ) is a copper layer. Linear guide arrangement according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the first metal layer ( 28 ) is applied by sputtering. Linear guide arrangement according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the second metal layer ( 29 ) is a nickel layer. Linear guide arrangement according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the second metal layer ( 29 ) is applied galvanically.

Images