Segmented Linear Guide Rail Joint for Raceway Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In linear motion guide units composed of multiple rail members connected in a longitudinal direction, misalignment during assembly can lead to steps in the raceway grooves at the connecting portions, causing malfunctions and impairing the smoothness of slider movement.
Innovation Solution
The rail members are connected using a protrusion and notch configuration, with a columnar member extending orthogonally to the longitudinal direction to secure them, preventing longitudinal misalignment and ensuring accurate alignment during grinding and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If multiple rail members are connected in the longitudinal direction to form a long rail, then the rail length is increased, but steps occur in the raceway groove at the connecting portion causing misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The rail is divided into multiple rail members that can be connected in the longitudinal direction. Each rail member has a protrusion at one end and a notch at the other end, allowing them to be assembled into a longer rail while maintaining alignment through the complementary protrusion-notch configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting portions use asymmetric protrusion and notch structures where the protrusion extends in the longitudinal direction and fits into a corresponding notch. This asymmetric design ensures proper alignment and prevents misalignment at the connecting portions when multiple rail members are assembled together.
2Manufacturing precision
If rail members are connected with protrusion and notch structures, then the alignment is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional connecting components
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusion and notch structures are integrated directly into the rail member bodies themselves, rather than being separate components. This merging of the connecting features with the rail members simplifies the overall structure while maintaining precise alignment at the connecting portions.
Data Source
AI summary
A linear motion guide unit includes a rail having a raceway groove extending on each longitudinal side surface, and a slider fitting over the rail and movable relative to the rail. The rail includes a first rail member and a second rail member connected to each other in a longitudinal direction at a connecting portion. The first rail member has, at least at one end, a protrusion extending in the longitudinal direction. The second rail member has, at least at one end, a notch to be combined with the protrusion. In the connecting portion, the protrusion of the first rail member is combined with the notch of the second rail member to connect the first rail member and the second rail member. The protrusion and the notch are fixed with a columnar member extending in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction.