Miniature Linear Motion Guide Unit Fixing Member Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The miniaturization of linear motion guide units with track rails of 5 mm or less makes it difficult to drill holes for fixing, leading to additional machining that can cause distortion, backlash, and increased manufacturing costs, while existing solutions require external screws or grooves that further complicate the process.
Innovation Solution
A fixing member with a recessed groove and mounting hole is used to secure the track rail without additional machining, allowing the groove to straddle the rail and maintain contact with the mounting surface, eliminating the need for external screws or grooves and preventing distortion of the raceway grooves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the track rail is miniaturized to 5 mm or less, then the linear motion guide unit becomes suitable for ultra-miniature applications, but it becomes impossible to drill holes for fixing the track rail
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of drilling holes through the track rail from the top surface, the invention inverts the fixing approach by drilling holes through the fixing member from the bottom mounting surface. The fixing member with recessed groove receives the track rail, and screws are fastened from underneath, completely avoiding the need to drill holes in the ultra-miniature track rail itself.
2Ease of manufacture
If external screws or fitting grooves are provided at the ends of the track rail for fixing, then the track rail can be fixed without drilling holes, but additional machining is required which causes distortion and reduces accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the additional machining operations (external screws or fitting grooves) from the track rail itself and relocates them to a separate fixing member. The track rail maintains its simple, unmodified form while the fixing member contains all the recessed grooves and mounting holes, thereby preventing distortion and backlash in the track rail.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the fixing function from the track rail structure. Instead of integrating fixing features directly into the track rail, it separates them into a distinct fixing member that receives the track rail. This segmentation allows the track rail to be manufactured with high precision without any additional machining that would cause distortion.
3Ease of manufacture
If additional machining is performed on the track rail for fixing, then the track rail can be secured to the mounting surface, but machining costs increase and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts all additional machining operations from the track rail and consolidates them in a separate fixing member. The track rail requires only simple formation of raceway grooves, while the fixing member contains the recessed groove and mounting hole structures, thereby reducing the overall machining complexity and cost.
Data Source
AI summary
A miniature linear motion guide unit can eliminate the need for additional machining on a track rail, and thus improve the accuracy of the track rail and reduce the manufacturing costs. A track rail (R) having raceway grooves (4, 5) is fixed to a mounting surface by a fixing member (A). A slider (S) straddles and moves on the track rail. The fixing member has a recessed groove (7) formed in an opposing mounting face (6) facing the mounting surface and straddling the track rail. Part of the recessed groove is in contact with the track rail when the recessed groove straddles the track rail. A mounting hole (11) is drilled in a portion of the recessed groove of the fixing member away from the track rail. A stopper member (10) such as a bolt is inserted in the mounting hole and fixed to the mounting surface.