Abstract: A linear guide is provided including a carriage configured to ride on a rail for linear motion along an axis of travel. The rail includes a base rail and a pair of side rail portions each coupled to a respective side of the base rail by an attachment portion. The surface of the each of the attachment portions forms an obtuse angle with the surface of the base rail portion.

Abstract: A linear slide is provided. The linear slide includes a guide rail, a carriage arrangement and a drive mechanism. The carriage arrangement includes a sidecar or nut arrangement for engagement with a screw of the drive mechanism. The nut arrangement is laterally offset from a carriage of the carriage arrangement.

Abstract: A method of making a bearing assembly and a bearing assembly is provided. The method includes the steps of extruding a support rail, providing a mounting surface on the support rail, mounting a bearing rail on the mounting surface and machining a bearing surface on the bearing rail. The bearing assembly includes an extruded support rail and a bearing rail. The bearing rail is of a harder material than the material of the support rail to which the bearing rail is mounted. The bearing rail further provides a machine polished linear contact.

Abstract: A guide carriage assembly that permits adjustment of a relative position of a bearing device, typically a guide wheel, relative to a carriage body is provided. The guide carriage assembly includes a carriage body, at least one support shaft and a guide wheel mounted to the support shaft. The support shaft provides a locating axis about which the support shaft may rotate when mounted to the carriage body. The support shaft further defines an offset bearing axis about which the guide wheel rotates. The offset relationship between the bearing axis and locating axis permits adjustment of the relative position of the guide wheel, or support surface, and the carriage body by rotating the support shaft about the locating axis. The guide carriage assembly may further including locking structure that applies opposing torques about the locating axis to secure the support shaft, and consequently the guide wheel, in the desired location.

Abstract: A nut and lead screw assembly that includes a nut are provided. The nut includes at least one flexible finger for adjusting the engagement of a threaded portion of the nut with corresponding threads of a lead screw. The threaded portion is preferably formed of a different material than the flexible finger. The material of the threaded portion is preferably of a lower coefficient of friction than the flexible finger. The nut also includes an adjustment mechanism that adjust the radial position of the flexible finger and also the threaded portion. A preferred adjustment mechanism includes a spring finger that provides a radially extending biasing load to a free end of the flexible finger to adjust the position of the flexible finger. The adjustment mechanism more preferably includes a an adjustment member that adjusts the radial load provided by the spring finger.

Abstract: A structural support member is provided. The structural support member includes a tensioning mechanism for applying a preload to a beam member of the structural support member. The tensioning mechanism acting on a loading pin causing the beam member to bend.

Abstract: A nut for a lead screw assembly, a lead screw assembly and a method for preventing backlash in a lead screw assembly are provided. The nut of the lead screw assembly includes a one-way clutch that permits relative motion of between two nut bodies in a first direction but prevents relative motion in an opposite direction. The one-way clutch preferably includes at least one sprag element that acts between the two nut bodies to permit or prevent relative motion between the two nut bodies of the nut. The lead screw assembly generally incorporates a nut incorporating such a nut. The method generally includes binding the first nut body relative the second nut body to prevent relative motion of the nut bodies in one direction while permitting relative motion in an opposite direction.

Abstract: A method of configuring a linear actuation system that includes establishing a connection via an electronic communication network with a linear actuation system customer, and receiving data that includes customer requirements for a linear actuation system, the data transmitted over the communication network. The method also includes presenting the customer with a series of options, based on the customer requirements, to select components for the linear actuation system, and displaying a scaled representation of the linear actuation system with those components selected by the customer.

Abstract: A guide assembly, a guide rail for a guide assembly, and a method for forming guide assemblies are provided. The guide rail includes a plurality of facets angularly spaced from one another such that guide wheels for use with a guide carriage can ride on the guide rails in varying angular orientations. The guide rail preferably includes a pair of running rails that include at least four facets that extend the longitudinal length of the guide rail. The method includes providing a plurality of identical guide rails and a plurality of different carriages that have different characteristics, such as the orientation at which the guide wheels of the carriages engage the guide rails.

Abstract: A guide rail is provided. The guide rail includes a base rail and a gear rack mounted to the base rail. The guide rail also provides at least one race upon which a guide roller can ride. The guide rail defines a reference point related to the raceway that has a parallelism relative to the gear rack of less than or equal to 0.005 inches per foot along the length of the guide rail. Preferably, the reference point is defined directly by the raceway and the parallelism is less than or equal to 0.001 inches per foot. A method of forming the guide rail is also provided. The method includes machining the reference point into the guide rail and using the reference point to locate machining a seat for mounting the gear rack. A guide assembly including a guide rail and a carriage or frame structure is also provided.

Abstract: A double door actuation system is provided. The actuation system includes a base frame, a drive motor, first and second guide rails and a pair of rail support arrangements. The drive motor is mounted to the base frame and includes a pinion gear rotatable about an axis of rotation. The guide rails include opposed raceways and a gear rack. The gear rack engages the pinion gear opposite sides such that the pinion gear simultaneously drives the guide rails in opposite directions parallel to a drive axis. The rail support arrangements are mounted to the base frame and support guide rails. The rail support arrangements maintain a substantially constant lateral location of the guide rails in a direction perpendicular to both the drive axis and axis of rotation to maintain a substantially constant mesh between the pinion the gear racks.

Abstract: A guide carriage assembly that permits adjustment of a relative position of a bearing device, typically a guide wheel, relative to a carriage body is provided. The guide carriage assembly includes a carriage body, at least one support shaft and a guide wheel mounted to the support shaft. The support shaft provides a locating axis about which the support shaft may rotate when mounted to the carriage body. The support shaft further defines an offset bearing axis about which the guide wheel rotates. The offset relationship between the bearing axis and locating axis permits adjustment of the relative position of the guide wheel, or support surface, and the carriage body by rotating the support shaft about the locating axis. The guide carriage assembly may further including locking structure that applies opposing torques about the locating axis to secure the support shaft, and consequently the guide wheel, in the desired location.

Abstract: A nut for a lead screw assembly, a lead screw assembly and a method for preventing backlash in a lead screw assembly are provided. The nut of the lead screw assembly includes a one-way clutch that permits relative motion of between two nut bodies in a first direction but prevents relative motion in an opposite direction. The one-way clutch preferably includes at least one sprag element that acts between the two nut bodies to permit or prevent relative motion between the two nut bodies of the nut. The lead screw assembly generally incorporates a nut incorporating such a nut. The method generally includes binding the first nut body relative the second nut body to prevent relative motion of the nut bodies in one direction while permitting relative motion in an opposite direction.

Abstract: A nut and lead screw assembly that includes a nut are disclosed. The nut includes at least one flexible finger for adjusting the engagement of a threaded portion of the nut with corresponding threads of a lead screw. The threaded portion is preferably formed of a different material than the flexible finger. The material of the threaded portion is preferably of a lower coefficient of friction than the flexible finger. The nut also includes an adjustment mechanism that adjust the radial position of the flexible finger and also the threaded portion. A preferred adjustment mechanism includes a spring finger that provides a radially extending biasing load to a free end of the flexible finger to adjust the position of the flexible finger. The adjustment mechanism more preferably includes a an adjustment member that adjusts the radial load provided by the spring finger.

Abstract: A guide assembly, a guide rail for a guide assembly, and a method for forming guide assemblies are provided. The guide rail includes a plurality of facets angularly spaced from one another such that guide wheels for use with a guide carriage can ride on the guide rails in varying angular orientations. The guide rail preferably includes a pair of running rails that include at least four facets that extend the longitudinal length of the guide rail. The method includes providing a plurality of identical guide rails and a plurality of different carriages that have different characteristics, such as the orientation at which the guide wheels of the carriages engage the guide rails.

Abstract: A method of making a bearing assembly and a bearing assembly is provided. The method includes the steps of extruding a support rail, providing a mounting surface on the support rail, mounting a bearing rail on the mounting surface and machining a bearing surface on the bearing rail. The bearing assembly includes an extruded support rail and a bearing rail. The bearing rail is of a harder material than the material of the support rail to which the bearing rail is mounted. The bearing rail further provides a machine polished linear contact.

Abstract: An improved sliding bearing apparatus and method utilize a snap-in polymer bearing insert having one or more identically shaped locking lugs, each of which are configured for locking engagement with a corresponding depression in a bearing housing, to thereby lock the bearing insert in place against relative movement either radially or axially with respect to the bearing housing. In a free-standing state, the insert may have a variety of shapes including cylindrical, non-cylindrical, or be flat and planar. An insert for a closed bearing is configured such that it may be trimmed to form an insert for an open bearing.

Abstract: A roller-guided track apparatus is provided. The roller-guided track apparatus includes a support member and a track roller arrangement. The track roller arrangement includes an axle and a roller, with the axle having first and second axial ends thereof. The first axial end of the axle is attached to the support member in such a manner that the second axial end of the axle forms a distal end of the axle projecting away from the support member. The roller defines an inner side of the roller and an outer side of the roller and has an aperture formed therethrough configured for receiving the axle. The axle passes through the aperture of the roller such that the roller is rotatable about the axle, the inner side of the roller faces the support member, and the distal end of the axle extends beyond the outer side of the roller. The distal end of the axle is orbitally deformed to form a head for retaining the roller upon the axle.

Abstract: A bearing insert, apparatus, and method use a bearing insert of polymer material, defining a longitudinal axis along which the bearing insert may be net-shape-formed by extrusion. Arrangements and methods are also provided for retaining the extrudable bearing insert within either open or closed bearing housings.