The dynamic capacity of THK’s LM Guides with Caged Ball™ technology has been increased by more than 30%. As a result, the latest generation of THK LM Guides featuring the Caged Ball system can now provide the automation and manufacturing sectors with linear motion products that offer even greater longevity and performance than before – in some instances doubling the calculated fatigue life.

THK’s R & D facilities in Japan, subjected the range of products to thorough dynamic load trials on life-test machines, with exciting results, proving that the Caged Ball guides are officially able to ‘carry’ more weight for longer, thereby reducing maintenance costs and downtime. In particular, this will impact on the use of SSR, SNS, SNR, SRS, SHS and SHW LM guides.

According to Graham O’Donoghue, Business Manager at THK, a combination of recent test results had confirmed that Caged Ball technology provides an increased dynamic capacity. “We have been able to prove that a Caged Ball system was a maintenance-free alternative to traditional LM guides because of the removal of ball to ball contact. We believed that the same principle could increase the dynamic capacity; but we had to prove and we are extremely pleased that these results proved this to be true.”

The findings add to the growing body of evidence that validate THK’s Caged Ball technology as a high-speed, low-noise and maintenance-free method of providing linear movement. What’s more, with equal spacing between the balls and the added retention of the system’s lubricating grease, THK’s Caged Ball technology offers highly precise and extremely smooth operation, typically realising one tenth of conventional resistance variation.

“THK’s LM guides with Caged Ball technology already provide quiet, maintenance-free movement, but with these latest results prove that they offer increased capacity and a significantly longer operating life,” concludes Graham.

SKF South Africa is the sole agent for THK in Sub Sahara Africa and offers the full THK range of products backed by technical service support.



THK Caged Ball Technology

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