Flexibility meets precision: linear guides in many variations

Lightweight and maintenance-free

Maintenance-free systems are increasingly in demand. The targets for packaging food, pharmaceutical, chemical, and technical products, for example, are high flexibility and productivity with low maintenance and downtime. For these reasons, the trend in the packaging industry is increasingly moving toward maintenance-free systems. Franke linear guides meet these requirements. The needle bearings of the rollers are lubricated for life. The closed design prevents lubricant from escaping and eliminates the need for relubrication. Completely lubricant-free versions of the guide are also available for special applications, helping to guarantee production reliability. Specially used corrosion-free components make the guide suitable for food applications and washable on request.

Even aggressive media such as salt, whey, or acid cannot damage the guide. High hygienic requirements for food packaging are met by cleanroom certification.

Franke aluminum roller guides are available in six sizes, from the compact size 12 to the powerful size 45. All sizes are available in rail lengths of up to 4 m in one piece.

Long stroke distances can be easily achieved by connecting rails. Accessories such as clamps, bellows, and metal scrapers complete the range. Another important feature is that Franke guideways can be fitted with any aluminum profile requested by the customer. The design of the carriages is also freely definable and can be supplemented with additional components such as spindle housings or adapter plates.

The weak points of classic recirculating ball guides

When comparing Franke linear guides with conventional recirculating ball guides, significant differences become apparent. Classic systems work on the principle of a ball bearing, but in a linear design. The balls or cylindrical rollers run directly on the rail and rely on grease lubrication for their movement – which not only attracts dirt but also makes maintenance time-consuming. In dusty or dirty environments, contaminants can penetrate directly into the raceway, increasing wear and impairing smooth running.

Removable carriages

Linear guides are indispensable in many industrial applications, whether in packaging machines, gantry systems, or high-precision medical devices. However, conventional systems often have limitations, especially when the carriage needs to be removed from the rail. This is exactly where Franke comes in with an innovative solution: the removable carriages of Franke linear guides offer a unique combination of flexibility, easy handling, and high precision. This sets them apart from classic recirculating ball guides and opens up new possibilities for design, assembly, and maintenance.

Why is a removable carriage so advantageous?

There are numerous scenarios in which it is necessary to remove a carriage from the rail. For example, this simplifies the design and assembly of gantry systems or elevator systems, as the rails are often only integrated into an existing structure at a later stage. There is also a decisive advantage in terms of maintenance: carriages can be replaced or serviced without completely dismantling the guide. The ability to bridge gaps between rails with Franke linear guides is particularly interesting – a scenario that would be problematic with conventional recirculating ball guides.

Another key problem arises when the carriage is removed from the rail: the balls or rollers fall out. This makes disassembly extremely time-consuming and means that conventional recirculating ball guides can only be removed in rare cases without damaging the system or having to set it up again.

Franke's solution: Removable carriages without losses

Franke has opted for a completely different design. The linear guides are equipped with closed roller bearings – either needle bearings or ball bearings. This means that no balls or rollers can fall out, even if the carriage is removed from the rail. As a result, the entire unit remains stable and can be replaced on the guide at any time.

In combination with a special run-in angle at the ends of the rails, the carriages center themselves automatically – a considerable convenience gain for installers and service technicians.