Motion Guide Moving Block Hybrid Material Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional motion guide devices face challenges in achieving both high strength and weight reduction while maintaining excellent mass productivity, as existing solutions either compromise on strength for weight reduction or vice versa, and often require complex manufacturing processes.
Innovation Solution
A motion guide device comprising a rolling part made of heat-treatable steel, a mounting part made of a material with lower specific gravity and higher rigidity than the return part, and connecting these parts using bolts or an adhesive agent, allowing for integral resin molding of the return part with the rolling and mounting parts, thereby optimizing strength and weight reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the mounting surface part and rolling-element return passage part are made of resin, then weight is reduced, but the mounting surface part lacks strength
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using different materials for different parts of the moving block: resin for the return passage part (where only shaping is needed), aluminum for the mounting surface part (requiring strength and rigidity), and steel for the rolling-element rolling part (requiring high strength). This localized material selection optimizes both weight and strength where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining resin, aluminum, and steel in a single moving block structure. The resin return passage part is integrally formed with the aluminum mounting part through injection molding, creating a composite structure that leverages the lightweight property of resin where strength is not critical and the structural properties of aluminum where mounting strength is required.
2Weight of moving object
If the mounting surface part and rolling-element return passage part are made of aluminum, then weight is reduced enough, but mass productivity is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the return passage part and mounting part into a single integrally formed component. The resin return passage part is injection-molded directly onto the aluminum mounting part in one process step, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing and assembly operations. This integration significantly improves mass productivity while maintaining weight reduction benefits.
3Strength
If the mounting surface part is made of steel like the rolling-element rolling part, then strength is sufficient, but weight reduction can not be achieved enough
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively using steel only for the rolling-element rolling part where high strength is critical for withstanding rolling contact loads, while using lighter aluminum for the mounting surface part and resin for the return passage part. This localized material distribution achieves sufficient strength where needed while maximizing weight reduction elsewhere.
Data Source
AI summary
The motion guide device has a raceway rail having a rolling-element rolling part; a moving block having a loaded rolling-element rolling part facing the rolling-element rolling part and a rolling-element circulation passage including a rolling-element return passage extending approximately in parallel with the loaded rolling-element rolling part; and a plurality of rolling elements arranged in the rolling-element circulation passage. The moving block has a rolling part made of steel and having the loaded rolling-element rolling part, a mounting part connected to the rolling part, having a mounting surface for mounting the moving block onto a counterpart device and having a specific gravity lower than that of the rolling part, and a return part made of resin and having the rolling-element return passage.