A linear guide is a mechanical element, usually made of metallic material, used to achieve linear motion in the fields of industry, manufacturing and automation. It consists of two parts: one is a rail fixed on the base or frame, and the other is a rail slider mounted on the moving part. The main function of the linear guide is to provide high-precision and high-rigidity linear motion, so that the mechanical system can smoothly perform linear positioning, processing and transportation. They can withstand high loads and pressures and have low friction and sliding resistance, making them ideal for applications requiring high precision and high speed motion. Linear guides are used in many industries and applications, including: Machine tools: used in CNC machine tools, grinding machines, lathes and other machine tool systems to realize the positioning, processing and cutting of workpieces. Automation equipment: used in automatic assembly lines, robot systems and other automation equipment to achieve precise positioning and transportation of workpieces. Electronics manufacturing: used to achieve precise positioning and motion control during semiconductor manufacturing, electronic assembly, and surface mounting. Packaging and logistics: In packaging machinery and logistics conveying systems, it is used to achieve accurate positioning and transportation of items. Platform and stage: used in stage performances, photography, laboratory research and other fields to achieve smooth movement and positioning. In summary, linear guides provide high-precision, high-speed, and high-reliability motion control solutions for various applications by providing support and guidance for linear motion.

Step 1: Design and Planning Determine the requirements: Determine the use, load requirements, travel range, accuracy requirements, etc. of the miniature linear guide. Design guide rails and sliders: Based on requirements, design the geometry, material, structure, and rolling bearings or sliding bearings of guide rails and sliders. Additional components: Decide if you need to integrate additional components such as sensors, limit switches, motor drives, etc. Step 2: Material preparation Select material: Select the material suitable for the guide rail and slider, usually high-strength alloy steel or engineering plastics. Make sure that the material has sufficient hardness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance. Material processing: Cutting, turning, grinding and other processing steps to prepare the raw materials for guide rails and sliders. Step 3: Processing guide rail and slider Precision machining: High-precision machining of guide rails and sliders to ensure that their geometric shape and surface quality meet the design requirements. Housing Machining: If required, housings are designed and machined for rolling or plain bearings. Step Four: Coating and Handling Surface treatment: Surface treatment of guide rails and sliders, such as chrome plating, electroplating, spraying, etc., to improve wear resistance, corrosion resistance and surface quality. Lubrication: Add proper lubricant between the rail and slider to reduce friction and wear. Step Five: Assembly Roller bearing mounting: If rolling bearings are used, they are mounted on bearing housings inside the carriage. Slider Installation: Insert the slider into the rail, make sure the slider slides smoothly. Fixture installation: Use screws, nuts and other fixtures to fix the guide rail and slider in place. Step Six: Quality Control and Testing Accuracy test: Use precision measuring tools to test the geometric shape and stroke accuracy of the miniature linear guide to ensure that it meets the design requirements. Sliding test: Manually slide the slider to test whether the sliding is smooth, free of jamming, and whether it meets the expected motion characteristics. Step Seven: Add-On Component Integration Integrate additional components: If required, integrate additional components such as sensors, limit switches, motor drives, etc. to ensure proper installation and proper functioning. Step Eight: Final Testing and Adjustments Comprehensive test: Conduct comprehensive tests on miniature linear guides, including tests on accuracy, stability, and load capacity. Adjustment and calibration: According to the test results, make necessary adjustments and calibrations to the rail system to ensure that its performance and accuracy meet the requirements.

Curved guides and linear guides are two common types of guides. Both have support and guidance functions. Both can transfer the energy of movement to the receiving end to achieve stable movement. So what is the difference between the two? From a structural point of view, linear guides are in the shape of a straight line, and they play a role in positioning, supporting and guiding in the movement of machinery and equipment. Curved guides are a special circular structure that is widely used in hardware, automation and precision mechanical equipment, and can maintain the axis position of relative movement unchanged. From the perspective of motion trajectory, the movement mode of linear guides is linear motion driven by balls. The contact area between the balls and the guide grooves is small, so that the surface of the guide is evenly stressed and has a long life cycle. The arc guide realizes movement by the rolling of the balls on the curved surface of the guide. The curved surface of the guide bears a larger contact area, so the load capacity is higher than that of linear guides. From the application point of view, linear guides are widely used in CNC machine tools, semiconductor equipment, medical equipment and other fields due to their linear motion characteristics. They can provide high-precision, high-rigidity and low-friction motion control, and are suitable for high-speed and high-precision linear motion requirements. Curved guides are more suitable for occasions that require curved motion or circular interpolation, such as robots, aerospace equipment, precision measuring instruments, etc. They can achieve smooth curved motion and precise circular interpolation, improving the motion performance and positioning accuracy of the equipment. The above is the difference between linear guides and circular guides. When choosing guides, users in the machinery industry should choose the appropriate guide form according to the specific usage scenarios and needs to ensure the stability and reliability of the mechanical equipment.