Dual-axis linear guides are a type of roller linear guides, and their lubrication method differs from that of ball linear guides. So how are dual-axis linear guides lubricated, and can they be lubricated and maintained without lubrication? Let's find out.
Because the balls in a ball linear guide are in direct contact with the guide surface and also with the air, lubrication is necessary, and this lubrication is performed simultaneously with the lubrication of the guide surface. However, in a dual-axis linear guide, the roller bearings roll on steel shafts embedded in the guide, so the lubrication of the roller bearing balls is separate from the lubrication of the guide surface.
The rollers of the dual-axis linear guide are pre-lubricated with high-grade grease and sealed before leaving the factory, so no additional lubricating oil is needed during use. The lubrication of the steel shaft of the dual-axis linear guide mainly relies on the oil seals at both ends of the slider. The oil seal housing is made of plastic and can withstand a certain impact. There are oil injection holes on the plastic housing, which can be filled with oil periodically. Both ends of the slider seal are equipped with oil-impregnated felt brushes, which contact the steel shaft under the slight pressure of the spring and apply lubricating oil to the steel shaft.
However, in certain applications, such as medical, food, vacuum, and cleanroom applications, lubrication of the guide rails is not permitted due to environmental constraints or the extreme inconvenience of adding lubricant. Roller guide rails, on the other hand, have a low coefficient of friction and efficient heat dissipation because the contact between the rollers and the guide rail is similar to line contact. This allows for normal operation without lubrication, achieving a maintenance-free system. In the pharmaceutical and food processing industries, critical processes often require oil-free operation, necessitating the prohibition of guide rail lubrication. Other transmission components, such as bearings, are pre-lubricated at the factory and are well-sealed to prevent leakage, eliminating the need for re-lubrication during use. Therefore, they are also essentially lubrication-free, yet the system continues to operate normally.
In summary, lubrication of dual-axis linear guides only requires periodically adding lubricating oil to the oil seal. If there are environmental restrictions, adding oil is not necessary, achieving maintenance-free operation.
