Modeling of Moving Table with Linear Roller Guides Subjected to Geometric Errors In Guide Rails

Abstract

This paper presents a model of a linear roller guide that considers geometric errors in rails. A five degree-of-freedom model of a table supported by linear roller guides with guide rail errors was built to determine table-motion errors during its motion along erroneous rails. The model was verified by comparing the simulated displacements of a linear guide estimated by the proposed model and those by an existing transfer-function method. Two types of geometric errors were considered for the guide rail: general form and waviness errors. The influence of external load, initial preload, and a few important parameters of the rail—such as wavelength and amplitude—on the displacement of the carriage and table were investigated extensively. The simulation results demonstrated the ability of the model to obtain complicated motion errors for moving tables with a number of supporting linear guides subjected to guide errors.