In industrial machinery and automation equipment, linear guides are one of the key moving parts. In order to ensure its long-term stable operation, it is important to choose the appropriate linear guide grease. Below, we will introduce you to the role of grease suitable for linear guides and how to choose.
1. Why Use Linear Guide Grease?
1.1 Reduce Friction and Wear
Linear guides operate at high frequency and load, friction and wear are inevitable. Grease with good adhesion forms an adhesive solid lubricating film, which can effectively reduce friction, reduce wear, and extend the service life of the guide rail.
1.2 Prevent Rust and Corrosion
Linear guides are often exposed to a variety of environments, and moisture and chemicals can cause rust and corrosion. The right linear guide grease can provide protection against corrosion and keep the rails in good condition.
1.3 Shock Absorption and Noise Reduction
Grease has the function of shock absorption and noise reduction, which can make the linear guide more stable when running at high speed, reduce noise, and improve the comfort of the working environment.
2. How to Choose Linear Guide Grease?
To give full play to the performance of linear guides, it is necessary to select the appropriate grease type and lubrication method according to the form, load, speed, etc. of the linear guides. Compared with sliding guides, rolling guides are extremely less dependent on grease, so the oil supply volume is small and the replenishment interval is also long, which can greatly reduce maintenance and management work.
2.1 Working Environment
Choose the appropriate grease according to the working environment of the linear guide. For example, a grease with strong water resistance should be selected in a humid environment, and a high-temperature resistant grease should be selected in a high-temperature environment.
2.2 Load and Speed
High-load, high-speed linear guides require the use of grease with good mechanical stability and moderate viscosity to ensure that the grease is not easily extruded under high load and provides long-lasting lubrication. Maintenance cycle: Different types of grease have different maintenance cycles. Choosing linear guide grease with a long maintenance cycle can reduce maintenance frequency and improve the operating efficiency of the equipment.
2.3 Compatibility
When selecting grease, you need to consider its compatibility with the linear guide material to avoid damage to the guide rail due to chemical reactions.
3. How Long is the Grease Replenishment Interval?
Even if it is a high-quality linear guide grease, its performance will deteriorate with operation time, so it must be replenished appropriately (generally, the grease sealed in the factory will be exhausted after about 600km of operation). The grease replenishment interval varies depending on the conditions, but is generally once every 6 months. For machinery with long-distance reciprocating motion, it is recommended to add grease every 3 months.
4. How Should Grease be Added?
Fully inject grease into the grease port such as a grease nipple or oil hole until the old grease is drained out. If the running-in operation is performed after filling, the excess linear guide grease will be discharged to the outside of the linear guide, and the discharged grease will be removed before official operation is started. The amount of grease added is roughly a ratio of about 1/3 to 1/2 of the internal space volume of the linear guide. When adding grease from the grease nozzle for the first time, part of it will be lost in the filling path, so it is necessary to consider this. loss part. Generally, after adding grease, the movement resistance tends to increase. After draining the excess grease and performing 10 to 20 reciprocating running-in operations, smaller and stable movement resistance can be obtained. In addition, for applications where the movement resistance is large and will cause problems, the amount of grease added can also be reduced, but it must be ensured that the amount added does not affect the lubrication performance.
Summary
Choosing the right grease is crucial for the long-term stable operation of linear guides. By understanding the functions, characteristics and precautions of grease selection, you can better protect the linear guide, extend its service life and improve the operating efficiency of the equipment.
CSK provides a variety of high-quality linear guide grease products to meet different working environments and needs to protect your equipment. If you have any questions about grease selection, please contact CSK and we will provide you with professional suggestions and solutions.