From Munich to Cairo without lubrication: Gliding instead of rolling with durable igus linear slides

Gliding instead of rolling – and reliable: The maintenance-free drylin W linear carriage of the T20 series simplifies the 1:1 switch from ball guides to sliding linear guides and achieved a service life of 2,500 to 18,000 kilometers in testing. (Source: igus GmbH)

With the T20 of the drylin W series, igus introduces a new linear slide that matches the dimensions of most traditional ball bearing guides. This allows for a quick 1:1 replacement – without any design modifications. Thanks to the use of drylin W, applications benefit from lubrication-free operation, durability, low cleaning effort, and reduced weight.

Whether it's the sliding door of a cabinet, the seat adjustment of a fitness device, or the bottle dispenser of a beverage vending machine: more and more designers are moving away from traditional ball guide systems and instead opting for drylin W linear systems from igus. A paradigm shift. Because the slide doesn't roll but glides very quietly over the rail – on high-performance plastic films. "Durability, maintenance-free operation, no need for lubrication, hygiene, and low weight: the advantages of drylin W are so great that more and more designers are even making elaborate technical modifications to their machines to enable the switch," says Michael Hornung, product manager for drylin linear technology at igus. "A effort we want to save designers in the future." That's why the company is launching the new linear slide T20. A robust and corrosion-resistant monoblock made of aluminum with linear slide bearing films from iglidur J200 for an especially long service life on hard-anodized aluminum rails.

Connection dimensions identical to ball bearing guides

The linear slide T20 visually resembles a classic slide with a roller guide. "The slide matches the dimensions of most ball bearing guides on the market – with the same system height and identical connection dimensions. This enables a lightning-fast 1:1 exchange of the slide and thus a convenient switch from roller guides to sliding guides – without any design modifications." A comparably quick change with dimensionally identical linear slides was previously only possible with the drylin T system. However, users were then limited to a T-guide rail. "With the new T20 linear slide, the transition from ball bearing guides to maintenance-free linear technology is significantly simplified."

T20 achieves operating distances of 2,500 to 18,000 kilometers in tests

The drylin W offering is characterized by high flexibility. Users can choose from different rail models. One of the most popular: the drylin W standard rail WS-10-40 – a robust aluminum linear rail, hard-anodized and corrosion-resistant. A rail characterized by a flat design and a torsionally stiff double-walled geometry. This is demonstrated by tests in igus' laboratory. Over a rail length of 1,000 millimeters, a T20 series linear slide moved back and forth in 24-hour operation – with a load of 250 N and an acceleration of 10 m/s². The system achieved a running distance of 2,500 kilometers in pure dry operation. This corresponds to the distance between Munich and Cairo. Under a load of 2 kilograms and slower travel speeds, a running distance of even 18,000 kilometers was achieved.

Tribological slide films – low maintenance, sustainable, and hygienic

In addition to durability, switching to a linear guide with high-performance plastic slide film offers further advantages. Unlike roller systems, the film does not require external lubrication. Integrated, microscopically small solid lubricants ensure low-friction dry operation. The benefit is obvious: avoiding lubricants saves time and maintenance costs and positively impacts the ecological balance. Equally sustainable: the lifespan of the linear slide is virtually unlimited because the films can be replaced easily and with little effort. Cleaning effort is also minimal, as dirt and grime are simply pushed off the rail by the slide film. In roller systems, there is often a risk that dirt mixes with lubricant to form a compound that reduces ease of movement and increases contamination risk. "Our various drylin linear slide films make it possible to optimize for each application," says Michael Hornung. "In addition to the aluminum variant, we have also developed a stainless steel linear slide. In combination with double rails made of VA stainless steel and linear slide films, for example from the FDA- and EU-compliant material iglidur A160, particularly hygienic and demanding cleaning applications in the food, medical, and pharmaceutical sectors are also possible."