Linear Motion Guide Rail Structure for Easy Length Customization

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional linear motion guide devices require significant time and effort for design changes in axial length, leading to increased manufacturing costs and decreased productivity due to the need for separate base members and guide rails of varying lengths.

Innovation Solution

A linear motion guide device with a base member featuring side wall parts and a bottom wall part, where the track body is attached over the entire length, and a bearing support part is integrated to restrict movement, allowing for easy cutting to desired lengths and reducing design work efforts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If separate base members and guide rails of different lengths are prepared for design changes, then the linear motion guide device can be adapted to different axial lengths, but manufacturing costs increase and productivity decreases due to repeated design work

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different axial lengthsVSAvoidproductivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The base member is designed with a universal structure that includes a guide rail attachment portion extending in the axial direction and a guide shaft attachment portion. This universal design allows the same base member to accommodate different axial lengths by simply attaching guide rails of different lengths, eliminating the need to create entirely new base members for each length requirement and thereby improving productivity while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The linear motion guide device is segmented into modular components: a standardized base member, guide rails of varying lengths, and other attachable components. This segmentation allows the guide rails to be independently selected and attached to the base member based on the required axial length, enabling flexible adaptation without redesigning the entire base member structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate base members and guide rails of different lengths are prepared for design changes, then the linear motion guide device can be adapted to different axial lengths, but manufacturing costs increase due to repeated design work

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different axial lengthsVSAvoidmanufacturing costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The base member is designed with a universal structure that includes a guide rail attachment portion extending in the axial direction and a guide shaft attachment portion. This universal design allows the same base member to accommodate different axial lengths by simply attaching guide rails of different lengths, eliminating the need to create entirely new base members for each length requirement and thereby improving productivity while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The base member integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides structural support, serves as the mounting platform for the guide rail attachment portion, and houses the guide shaft attachment portion. This merging of functions reduces the total number of parts that need to be designed and manufactured separately, lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining adaptability through the attachable guide rails.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the track body is attached over the entire length and the bearing support part has a facing region covering the entire length, then movement is properly restricted throughout, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemovement restriction reliabilityVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing support part is merged with the base member as an integrated component rather than a separate attachment. The facing region is formed as part of the base member's structure, extending over the entire length to provide continuous movement restriction. This merging reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies assembly while ensuring reliable movement restriction throughout the entire length of the track body.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The base member serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, attaches the guide rail, supports the guide shaft, and through its facing region, restricts movement of the moving body. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components that would otherwise be needed to achieve movement restriction, thereby reducing structural complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11268600B2Linear motion guide device and method for manufacturing linear motion guide device

Publication Date: 2022.03.08 THK CO LTD

AI summary

The method for manufacturing a linear motion guide device includes a step of forming a long member (8) having a pair of side wall parts (51) and a bottom wall part (52), a step of attaching a track body (4) to the pair of side wall parts (51) of the long member (8), and a step of cutting away a base member (5) to which the track body (4) is attached by cutting the long member (8) together with the track body (4) into a desired length.