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What is this linear bearing called?

There is three piece linear bearing consists of a highly polished cylindrical hardened steel precision linear shaft, a bronze sleeve with 1 mm balls embedded so they are free to rotate in place, and a steel collar whose inside diameter fits tightly around the OD of the bronze sleeve. This is used in punch presses and plastic mold tooling. It provides very smooth, highly accurate motion with low friction.

Update:

Wingstwo, Thank you for the answer. Ball slide, ball bushing, linear ball slide, and linear ball bushing could also refer to a recirculating ball bushing, which is a very common device that works with a precision cylindrical shaft (like Thomson). I was hoping to find a name that could not be interpreted as these other items. If there is no existing unique name, I'd like to come up with a name such as: bronze sleeve with swaged embedded balls and tighly fitting steel collar. That's a mouthful but you get the idea: something that can't possibly apply to similar devices.

2 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Varies by manufacturer.

    Ball slide, ball bushing, linear ball slide, linear ball bushing are most common non-trade names. I consider ball bushing to be the most correct. To me, a ball slide could be like a drawer slide. Google these for more info.

    Edit: How about guide posts and ball bushing cage. Maybe die set ball bushing bearing? Closed sleeve ball bushing bearing? Danley is the brand I used to buy all the time.

    http://www.danly.com/QuotesDieSets.html

    http://www.precisionballspecialties.com/ball_beari...

  • 1 decade ago

    Try simply a linear ball race. That's all- descriptive.

    The bronze sleeve is clearance on the outer race and the shaft, only the balls make contact with the shaft and outer race.The bronze sleeve slides to and fro at 1/2 the rate the shaft moves through the outer race.

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