Linear systems
Due to the increasing automation of the industry, more and more processes are equipped with linear systems. As the demands on linear systems increase, so do the demands on the materials used (such as stainless-steel linear guides), which are increasingly reaching their limits. The use of ceramic materials for sliding systems opens up a variety of new applications. A linear system can be made completely of ceramic or also be manufactured in hybrid design with ceramic rolling elements. The use of ceramic components offers a variety of advantages.
- longer service life
- higher stiffness and thus reduced vibration of the components
- weight saving of approx. 50 %
- temperature resistant
- low rolling resistance
- suitable for operation in poor lubrication
- it is also possible to work without lubrication
- high chemical resistance
- non-magnetic
- vacuum suitable
- clean room compatible
The technical ceramics Si3N4, ZrO2 or also Al2O3 used so far are accompanied however due to their expensive manufacturing process with high costs of acquisition.
Ceramic components for linear systems made of Metal-like Ceramic (MLC) offer all the advantages of technical ceramics but can be manufactured much more cost-effectively due to their innovative manufacturing process. In addition, ceramic rolling elements made of MLC offer a coefficient of thermal expansion adapted to steel, allowing hybrid linear systems to be used in a wide temperature range.