Linear Rails: THK Vs NSK 1

[mechantaeus]

Group:

I am currently comparing THK and NSK linear rails. Everything appears similar with the exception thatNSK is cheaper. I have also looked into bearing design, load capacity etc.
Any experiences with the above two?
Thanks,

-mech

Work Hard and Work Smart

 

[MintJulep]

They both work, as do Thompson.

 

[MadMango]

If the specs are similar, then performance should be as well. This should be a Purchasing function, but I would check to see where the vendors are located, as this may have an affect on your lead times. Also one might have a minimum order stipulation, which might not work with your product or processes.

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[Barry1961]

I have used THK, NSK, Thompson, Hiwin, and INA and they all seem to work well and are drop in replacements for each other. If you have a high speed >60in-sec or a non-lube application you might want to pick one with a oil impregnanted plastic "cage" that recirculates with the balls. I think THK and one other has this but the last ones I spec'ed were over a year ago.

Barry

 

[jdg268]

some THK blocks are caged. Life is much longer, they tend to be quieter too. I think they have a plant in the US, so lead times are relatively quick.

 

[mechantaeus]

Thanks you All for the info.

Work Hard and Work Smart

 

[Mercdog]

Barry,
What is your experience with Hiwin. I have started evaluating them, but the rails are critical to our design and am afraid that in production the quality may not be as good as the few prototype rails they provide.

Thanks,
Terry

 

[APH]

choose the one that is closer to your desk..

APH

 

[Barry1961]

We never had any problems with Hiwin though we mainly used THK since a local distributor stocked it. Most of our apps were gantry robots using pairs of rails on machined sufaces. One rail would be justified against a shoulder for straightness.
The only problems we ever had were due to bad machining of our structures never the purchased rail. The main mistake would be a bowed structure not being shimmed well enough before being clamped down to machine. This would caused the structure to spring back bowed after being machined "flat" when unclamped.
Of course stress relieve any welded assemblies before machining.

Barry