Maintenance of Linear Guides: Make Your Equipment Last Three Years Longer

Want to extend the life of your equipment by three years? Proper maintenance of your linear motion components is the key! Share practical methods for cleaning, lubricating and inspecting linear motion components. Learn how to reduce wear and improve equipment performance through daily maintenance.Mastery of these techniques enables users to extend the life of their equipment and reduce maintenance costs.

The importance of maintenance of the tracks.

Guideways are the core components of equipment, like the joints of the human body. Once they are no longer properly maintained, the equipment either runs with a hitch, or is completely paralyzed.Don't assume that because the guide rails look sturdy they are invulnerable to harm. Dust, oil, and metal shavings can all silently "eat away" at their lifespan.Our goal is simple--to spend a little money to save a lot, and make our equipment last longer.

The first step is cleaning.

Clean the surface of the dough.

Spend five minutes before you leave work brushing off the metal shavings and dust from the track with a soft brush. Never use a steel wool scrubber! For stubborn oil stains, spray on a specialized cleaner and wipe off with a lint-free cloth.Remember that the dirt in between the tracks is the worst, and it is cheaper to take a cotton swab and pick it out bit by bit than to have to repair the tracks later.

Avoiding moisture buildup.

After cleaning the tracks, you must use an air gun to blow them dry, especially in the humid south.Last year, because of the humidity during the plum rains, the guide rails in Lao Wang's factory rusted and the factory had to close for three days. Don't let that happen to you!

The Golden Rule of Lubrication

Choose the right lubricant.

Don't just grab any oil and smear it on the track! High-speed tracks use low-viscosity oil, while heavy-load tracks use high-viscosity oil.If you're not sure, ask the manufacturer, or try a general-purpose lithium grease. This stuff is like a cure-all, and can be used in most situations.

The way in which the paint is applied is important.

Lubricant is not the more the better, just a thin, even coating will do.A small trick: After application, rub the area a few times to help the lubricant penetrate more evenly.The oil should be changed once a month, and equipment that is used frequently should be checked weekly.

You can't be lazy about regular checkups.

Listen to the sound of the problem.

When the equipment is in operation, if you put your ear to the track and hear a grinding sound, it probably means that the lubrication is inadequate or that the track has warped.This is a good time to stop the machine and check it out. Don't wait until sparks fly and you regret it!

Measuring the spacing of the tracks.

Every month, use a feeler gauge to measure the gap between the rails. The standard value is written in the user's manual.If the gap exceeds 0.1 millimeters, they contact the manufacturer to adjust it.Don't look down on this little bit of deviation, for over time it can wear out the bearings.

Don't make these mistakes.

• Use sandpaper to clean rust off the guide rails (it's cheaper to replace them than to keep fixing them).

Don't mix different kinds of grease (they may chemically react and harden).

• Unused equipment is not treated against rust (it's not difficult to apply rustproof oil and cover it with plastic).

Following these methods, you will find that the equipment will run more smoothly.We have seen too many factories that saved a little money by neglecting maintenance and then had to spend a lot of money repairing equipment. It's really better to be diligent and do things right.Remember, track maintenance is not a technical job, it's a job of attitude!