Vertical CNC Milling Machining Center Hard and Linear Rails

1. What is hard rail? What is a linear orbit?

Hard rail refers to the casting that combines the guide rail with the base, and then processes the guide rail on the basis of the casting. In other words, the shape of the guide rail is cast on the bed, and then quenched and ground. Some guide rails are not necessarily integrated with the bed and guide rails. For example, the steel inlaid guide rail is nailed to the bed after processing.

Machine tool with hard rail

Linear guide rail usually refers to rolling guide rail, which is used in the linear module commonly used in the machine tool industry. We usually call this element “linear guide rail”.
The linear guide rail itself is divided into two parts: slide rail and slider. There are internal circulating balls or rollers in the slider, and the length of the slide rail can be customized. It is a modular component and a standardized series of independent products produced by professional manufacturers. It can be installed on the machine tool and can be disassembled and replaced after wear.
Most machine tools in the field of finishing use high-precision linear guide rail as machine tool guide rail, which also greatly ensures the machining accuracy of machine tools. Imported products include Rexroth from Germany and THK from Japan, and domestic products are better done in Nanjing. Craft, Hanjiang railway, Taiwan silver, etc.

Machine tool with linear guide

2. Does the machining center have better hard rail? Or linear orbit?

In fact, there is nothing good or bad about hard track and linear track. We can only say whether they are appropriate or not, because their focus is different. Let’s look at their respective advantages and disadvantages.

1. Advantages, disadvantages and application of hard rail

The hard rail has large sliding contact surface, good rigidity, strong impact resistance and strong bearing capacity, which is suitable for heavy cutting.

Hard rail belongs to dry friction. Due to the large contact surface and large friction resistance, the moving speed cannot be too fast. At the same time, it is easy to cause crawling, and there is a gap on the moving surface, which will lead to machining error. The maintenance of machine tool track is the top priority. Once the lubrication of the guide rail is insufficient, it will lead to the burning or wear of the guide rail, which is fatal to the accuracy of the machine tool.

Hard rail is suitable for heavy cutting, large molds, high hardness workpieces and workpieces with general accuracy requirements.

2. Advantages, disadvantages and application of steel rail

Nowadays, many machine tools run very fast, especially at idle speed, which is largely due to the credit of the railway; The track rail can be preloaded to achieve zero gap and high precision; In terms of service life, the line rail is much higher than the hard rail.

The cutting force of linear guide rail is smaller than that of hard rail, but for hard rail, in fact, the linear guide rail of many machine tools greatly improves its bearing capacity.

The application of wire rail is suitable for high-speed machine tools, high-speed cutting, processing products and small precision molds. Today, more sophisticated machining centers use linear guides.