1. Home
  2. Product Information
  3. Other Linear Motion Guides
  4. Precision Linear Pack
  5. Precautions on Use

Precision Linear Pack Precautions on Use

Handling

  1. Do not disassemble the parts. This will result in loss of functionality.
  2. Take care not to drop or strike the precision linear pack. Otherwise, it may cause injury or damage the unit. Even if there is no outward indication of damage, a sudden impact could prevent the unit from functioning properly.
  3. Removing the inner block of the precision linear pack from the outer rail or letting it overshoot will cause balls to fall out.
  4. Wear appropriate safety gear, such as protective gloves and safety shoes, when handling the product.

Use

  1. Prevent foreign material, such as cutting chips or coolant, from entering the product. Failure to do so could damage the product.
  2. If foreign materials such as cutting chips adhere to the product, replenish the lubricant after cleaning the product.
  3. Do not use the product at temperatures of 80℃ or higher.
  4. Using the product while rolling elements are missing could lead to premature failure of the product.
  5. If any rolling elements fall out, contact THK. Do not use the product in that condition.
  6. If the mounting material lacks sufficient rigidity or accuracy, the bearing load may be focused in one area, and bearing functionality will dramatically decrease. Therefore, carefully consider the rigidity and accuracy of the housing and base, and the strength of the securing bolts.
  7. Very small strokes can inhibit the formation of an oil film between the raceways and the areas of contact on the rolling elements, resulting in fretting. Therefore, be sure to use a type of grease with high fretting resistance properties if the stroke will be small. We recommend periodically allowing the nut to stroke a distance roughly equal to its length to help ensure that a film forms between the raceways and rolling elements.

Lubrication

  1. Thoroughly remove anti-rust oil with a cleaning detergent and apply lubricant before using the product. As the most suitable grease, we recommend THK AFC Grease, which maintains lubricity over a long period of time. For lubrication in a clean room, low-dust-generation THK AFE-CA Grease and THK AFF Grease are recommended.
  2. Do not mix different lubricants. Even greases containing the same type of thickening agent may, if mixed, interact negatively due to disparate additives or other ingredients.
  3. When using the product in locations exposed to constant vibrations or in special environments such as clean rooms, vacuums, and extreme heat or cold, use a lubricant suitable for its use/environment.
  4. When lubricating the product, apply grease directly on the raceway and stroke the product several times to let the grease spread inside.
  5. The consistency of grease changes according to the temperature. Please keep in mind that the precision linear pack’s sliding resistance may be affected by changes in viscosity.
  6. After lubrication, the sliding resistance of the precision linear pack may increase due to the stirring resistance of the grease. Be sure to perform a warm-up operation and allow the grease to break in sufficiently before operating the machine.
  7. Excess grease may spatter after lubrication. Wipe off spattered grease as necessary.
  8. Grease deteriorates over time, which decreases the lubricity, so perform regular grease inspections and replenish grease based on frequency of use.
  9. However, note that the lubrication interval may vary according to operating conditions and the service environment. Set the final lubrication interval/amount based on the actual machine.

Installation

The mounting surface of the Precision Linear Pack Model ER must be finished with the highest possible precision.
Use commercially available No. 0 pan head machine screws designed for precision equipment to anchor the outer rail of models ER513 and ER616. (With ordinary screws, the head of the screw could come into contact with the inner block.) Use commercially available crossrecessed pan head machine screws to anchor the outer rail of models ER920 and ER1025. (See Table 1 .)

Table 1: Outer Rail Mounting Screws
Model No. Type Screw type × pitch
ER 513 No. 0 pan head
screw1 (class 1)		 M2×0.4
ER 616 M2.6×0.45
ER 920 Cross-recessed
pan head screw2		 M3×0.5
ER 1025 M4×0.7

1 Japan Camera Industry Association Standard JCIS 10-70 Cross-recessed screw for precision equipment (No. 0 screw)

2 Cross-recessed pan head screw JIS B 1111

Storage

When storing the precision linear pack, pack it as designated by THK and store it indoors in a horizontal position away from extreme heat or cold and high humidity.
If you request that we do not apply anti-rust oil to a product, please be aware that it may rust due to the storage environment or length of storage.

Disposal

The product should be treated as industrial waste and disposed of appropriately.