Accessories for Lubrication

We offer a full line of accessories for lubrication to maintain good lubrication.

Types

A variety of specialized greases for linear motion system applications.

By replacing the dedicated nozzle, this grease gun can be used for lubricating small to large LM Guide models.

Accessories for various lubrication holes according to the lubrication method.

Search products by various conditions

Features

Lubrication

To optimize an LM system’s functionality, it is necessary to provide lubrication according to the usage conditions. Use without lubrication may increase wear on the rolling elements and shorten the service life.
Lubrication has the following effects:

Minimizes friction between moving elements to prevent seizure and reduce wear
Forms an oil film on the raceway to decrease stress acting on the surface and extend rolling fatigue life
Covers metal surfaces with an oil film to prevent the formation of rust

Even when the LM system has seals, the internal lubricant gradually seeps out during operation.Therefore, the system needs to be lubricated at an appropriate interval according to the usage conditions.

Types of Lubricants

LM systems mainly use grease or sliding surface oil for their lubricants.
The requirements that lubricants need to satisfy generally consist of the following:

Extreme pressure resistance
Reduce friction
High wear resistance
High thermal stability
Excellent rust-proofi ng performance
Excellent fluidity
Consistency of grease must not vary significantly even with repeated stirring

Grease Lubrication

Greasing intervals vary depending on the usage environment and conditions. For normal use, we recommend greasing the system approximately every 100 km of travel distance (3 to 6 months).
When replenishing grease through the LM system’s grease nipple and greasing hole, use grease of the same type. Mixing different types of grease may hinder the system’s performance.

Lubricant	Type	Brand name
Grease	Lithium-based grease Urea-based grease Calcium-based grease	AFA Grease AFB-LF Grease AFC Grease AFE-CA Grease AFF Grease AFG Grease AFJ Grease L100 Grease L500 Grease L700 Grease	see Products Page see Products Page see Products Page see Products Page see Products Page see Products Page see Products Page see Products Page see Products Page see Products Page
Grease	Lithium-based grease Urea-based grease Calcium-based grease	Shell Alvania Grease S (Showa Shell Sekiyu) Daphne Eponex Grease MP (Idemitsu) Equivalent product

* The recommended grease will vary according to the usage conditions and environment.

Oil Lubrication

Lubricant	Type	Brand name
Oil	Sliding surface oil or turbine oil ISOVG32 to 68	Daphne Super Multi Oil (Idemitsu) Mobil Vactra Oil Numbered Series (Exxon Mobil) Mobil Vactra Oil No. 2 SLC (Exxon Mobil) Mobil DTE Oil Series (Exxon Mobil) Shell Tonna S3 M (Showa Shell Sekiyu) Equivalent product

The amount of oil to be supplied varies with stroke length. For a long stroke, increase the lubrication frequency or the amount of oil applied so that an oil film is able to form along the raceway to the end of the stroke.
In environments where liquid coolant may spatter, the lubricant may become mixed with the coolant. This could result in the lubricant being emulsified or washed away, causing significantly decreased lubrication performance. In such settings, apply a lubricant with high viscosity (kinematic viscosity: approx. 68 mm²/s) and high emulsification resistance, and adjust the lubrication frequency or the amount of feed lubricant.
For machine tools and similar devices that are subject to heavy loads, require high rigidity, and operate at high speed, oil lubrication is recommended.
Use only after making sure that the lubrication oil discharges normally from the ends of the lubrication piping, i.e., the oiling ports that connect to your LM system.

Product Selection According to Usage Environment

When using the product in locations exposed to constant vibrations or under special circumstances such as in clean rooms, vacuums, and low/high temperatures, it may not be possible to use standard grease. In such cases, THK will recommend the optimal lubricant. Please contact THK for details.

Usage environment/ Conditions	Lubrication	THK product
Environments with spattering coolant	To stop the coolant from causing emulsification, use grease that does not easily wash away. Use grease with extreme pressure and rust-proofing performance. * In environments where water-soluble coolants may spatter, there are occasions where certain types of coolant may cause emulsification or cause the grease to wash away, even if using medium-viscosity lubricant.This, in turn, may then reduce lubricity and prevent a proper oil film from forming. Check the compatibility between the lubricant and coolant. ● Daphne Super Multi Oil (Idemitsu) ● Mobil Vactra Oil No. 2 SLC (Exxon Mobil)	- Please note that applying coolant directly to THK products may have an adverse effect on components/parts made of resin, rubber, etc. - Consider using designs where coolant cannot come into direct contact with THK products (consider using covers or bellows). - Consider using some of the various dust-proofing options available in order to prevent coolant from getting inside THK products.
High-temperature environment	- Please note that the higher the temperature, the greater the risk of the grease separating and the lubrication performance dropping.	- Contact THK for a range of high-temperature specification products.
Clean room	- THK also offers a range of clean room-compatible grease products. ● AFE-CA Grease (THK) ● AFF Grease (THK) ● L100 Grease (THK)	- Two reasons for the generation of dust are metal-to-metal contact and mutual friction between rolling elements. THK offers a range of products with a cage for minimizing metal-to-metal contact and mutual friction between the rolling elements. Furthermore, the cage is also structured in a way that maintains the lubricity, making it suitable for use in clean rooms. - Anti-rust oil is applied as standard, so please specify if it is not required.
Vacuum environments	- Use fluorinated lubricants for vacuums (vapor pressure varies by brand). - Using vacuum grease will make it more likely that the oil film will break due to its low extreme pressure resistance compared to general industrial grease. Be sure that there is a reliable feeding of oil to the raceways (by increasing the number of relubrications, etc.) in order to ensure that the oil film does not break. * If using vacuum greases, please note that some brands have starting resistances several times greater than general-purpose grease.	- Please note that under vacuum environments, there is a risk that gas given off by resin and rubber materials may cause the vacuum level to decrease. - Please consider using stainless steel or surfacetreated products as a rust-proofing measure.
High-speed moving parts	- Use a lubricant with a low base oil kinematic viscosity to prevent heat generated by resistance from the lubricant. - THK offers a range of grease products with excellent high-speed specifications. ● AFA Grease (THK) ● AFG Grease (THK) ● AFJ Grease (THK)	- Metal-to-metal contact and mutual friction between the rolling elements inside products may produce noise and quickly lead to damage. - THK offers a range of caged products with excellent high-speed and noise-dampening properties.
Environments with water	- Use grease with high water-proofing properties. - Use a lubricant with high extreme pressure resistance that does not easily wash away. ● L700 Grease (THK) - Contact THK for instructions regarding lubricating in and around water.	- Consider using designs where water cannot come into contact with THK products. (Consider using bellows or covers.) - Consider using stainless steel or surface-treated products as a rust-proofing measure. - Consider using some of the various dust-proofing options available in order to prevent water from getting inside the product.
Food machinery	- Consider using grease that is made for food processing and that is safe for people. ● L700 Grease (THK) (NSF H1 standard accredited)	- Consider using covers if there is the possibility of lubricant spattering.
Micro-vibration	- THK offers a range of grease products that work particularly well under micro-vibrations. ● AFC Grease (THK) ● AFJ Grease (THK)	- Oil films formed at the points of contact between the rolling elements and raceway are likely to break in environments with micro-vibrations. - By periodically overstroking, the lubricant will form an oil film at the points of contact between the rolling elements and raceway.

Lubrication Methods

There are three methods of lubricating LM systems: manual greasing using a grease gun or manual pump, forced greasing with the aid of an automatic pump, and oil-bath lubrication.
To achieve efficient lubrication, it is necessary to mount the grease nipple or the plumbing fixture according to the mounting orientation.
We also stock grease guns, grease nipples, and plumbing fixtures.
(If using the product in any orientation other than horizontal, be sure to let THK know the mounting orientation and the exact position in each LM block where the grease nipple or the plumbing fixture should be attached. For the mounting orientation of the LM Guide, see Conditions of the LM Guide.)

Manual Lubrication

Generally, grease is replenished periodically and fed through the grease nipple provided on the LM system using a grease gun. ( Fig.1 )

Forced Lubrication Method

With this method, a given amount of lubricant is forcibly fed at a given interval. ( Fig.2 )
Although a special lubrication system using piping or the like needs to be designed, this method reduces the likelihood of forgetting to replenish lubricant.
Use only after making sure that the lubrication oil discharges normally from the ends of the lubrication piping, i.e., the oiling ports that connect to your LM system.

Lubrication Accessory Series for LM Systems

THK provides a wide array of lubrication accessories such as grease, grease guns, grease nipples and plumbing fixtures available for various applications.

THK Original Grease

THK provides various types of THK original grease needed for the lubrication of LM systems. They are available for various conditions and environments.

Table for Grease Selection

Name of grease		AFA	AFB-LF	AFC	AFE-CA	AFF	AFG
Features		Low sliding friction	All-purpose type	For fretting and corrosion resistance	For clean environments	For clean environments	For preventing heat generation by ball screws
Base oil		High-grade synthetic oil	Refined mineral oil	High-grade synthetic oil	High-grade synthetic oil	High-grade synthetic oil	High-grade synthetic oil
Consistency enhancer		Urea-based	Lithium-based	Urea-based	Urea-based	Lithium-based	Urea-based
Features	Low sliding friction	○	-	-	-	-	○
	Micro-vibration	○	-	○	-	○	○
	High load	-	○	-	-	-	-
	Low dust generation (Clean environments)	-	-	-	◎	○	-
	Water resistance	○	○	-	-	-	○
	Machine stability	-	○	○	○	○	-
Bellows cartridge color		Clear	Light green	Clear	White	Dark blue	Light green
Cap color		White	Yellow	Orange	White	White	Orange
Reference page		Products Page	Products Page	Products Page	Products Page	Products Page	Products Page

Name of grease		AFJ	L100	L500	L700
Features		For a wide range of speeds	For clean environments/ High loads	For high-load ball screws	For medical, pharmaceutical, and food equipment
Base oil		Refined mineral oil	High-grade synthetic oil	Refined mineral oil	High-grade synthetic oil
Consistency enhancer		Urea-based	Lithium complex-based	Lithium complex-based	Calcium sulfonate complex-based
Features	Low sliding friction	○	-	-	-
	Micro-vibration	○	-	-	-
	High load	○	◎	◎	○
	Low dust generation (Clean environments)	-	○	-	-
	Water resistance	-	-	-	◎
	Machine stability	○	○	○	○
Bellows cartridge color		Yellow	Blue	Purple	White
Cap color		Blue	Yellow	Yellow	White
Reference page		Products Page	Products Page	Products Page	Products Page