Full-Ball LM Guide Straight-and-Curved LM Guide Model HMG

The Straight-and-Curved LM Guide Model HMG is a novel guide that allows the same type of LM blocks to continuously move on straight and curved rails by combining the technologies of the LM Guide Model HSR and the Curved LM Guide Model HCR. It achieves drastic cost reduction by eliminating
the need for lifts and turntables, improving the efficiency and simplifying the structure of assembly and conveyance lines and inspection equipment.

Freedom of Design

It allows free combinations of straight and curved shapes.
Since LM blocks can smoothly transit between the straight and curved sections, various combinations of straight and curved rails can be joined into dynamic arrangements such as O, U, L, and S shapes. In addition, HMG allows a large table to be mounted and a heavy object to be carried through combinations of multiple blocks on a single rail or two or more LM rails. Thus, it provides great freedom of design.

Straight-and-Curved Seals

The Model HMG is available with seals that can be used for both straight and curved sections to prevent foreign materials from entering. These straight-and-curved seals provide sealing for both the straight and curved sections, preventing foreign materials from entering the unit.

Shortened Transportation Time

Unlike the shuttle method, using HMG units in a circulating system allows workpieces to be placed while other workpieces are being inspected or mounted, significantly improving process time. Increasing the number of tables can further shorten process time.

Cost Reduction through a Simplified Mechanism

The combination of straight and curved rails eliminates lifts and turntables conventionally used for changing directions in conveyance and production lines. Therefore, use of HMG simplifies machines and eliminates a large number of parts, allowing the cost to be reduced. This also reduces the labor and time required for design.

The Straight-and-Curved LM Guide Model HMG requires a rotating mechanism or a slide mechanism for the table to rotate the curved sections when two or more rails are used or when two or more LM blocks are connected on a single rail. Refer to Fig. 4 for examples of such mechanisms.

Fig. 5 shows examples of designing a table when units are used on multiple axes. HMG requires a rotating mechanism and a slide mechanism since the table is decentered when an LM block transits from a straight section to a curved section. The amount of decentering differs according to the radius of the curved section and the LM block span. Therefore, it is necessary to design the system in accordance with the corresponding specifications.
Fig. 6 shows detail drawings of the slide and rotating mechanisms. In the figure, LM Guide units are used in the slide mechanism and cross-roller rings in the rotating mechanism to achieve smooth sliding and rotating motions.
For driving the straight-and-curved guide, belt drives and chain drives are available.