THK’s Flat Roller Flat Surface Type Model FT Series represents a specialized linear motion solution engineered for applications demanding exceptional rigidity, high load capacity, and precise, stable movement along a flat surface. This system fundamentally departs from traditional ball-based guides by utilizing cylindrical rollers as the rolling elements within its compact, integrated carriage and rail assembly. The FT Series is specifically designed to withstand substantial moments and loads, making it an optimal choice for replacing complex, custom-machined slide mechanisms with a standardized, high-performance, off-the-shelf component.

The technical architecture of the FT Series is defined by several critical features. Its core innovation lies in the flat roller and flat raceway design. The rollers make line contact with the raceways, a significant advantage over the point contact of ball screws, resulting in a dramatically increased load-bearing area. This design inherently provides a higher static and dynamic load rating. The carriage is a rigid, single-unit block that houses multiple rows of precision-ground rollers, which are retained by a highly durable resin cage. This cage ensures smooth, continuous recirculation of the rollers, minimizing vibration and noise while preventing skewing and jamming. The rail is manufactured with hardened and precision-ground raceways, guaranteeing long-term accuracy and wear resistance. For installation, the rail features tapped holes along its length, simplifying mounting and alignment onto a machine base.

Performance advantages derived from this robust design are substantial. The most prominent benefit is its superior load capacity and rigidity, which allows the FT Series to handle heavy loads and high moment loads—such as overturning, lateral, and pitching moments—with minimal deformation. This results in exceptional positional accuracy and repeatability, even under demanding operating conditions. The line contact of the rollers also contributes to a longer service life and reduced maintenance requirements compared to ball-based systems subjected to similar loads. The compact cross-sectional profile of the unit saves valuable space within machinery, while the standardized design drastically reduces design time, manufacturing costs, and lead times associated with custom-built sliding tables.

Typical applications for the THK FT Series are found in industrial sectors where robust, reliable linear motion is non-negotiable. In industrial machinery, it is extensively used in heavy-duty automation equipment, such as high-precision machining centers for workpiece positioning, automated assembly lines for transferring heavy components, and in precision press-feeding mechanisms. Within the automotive manufacturing sector, these guides are ideal for welding robot bases, heavy-duty material handling arms, and precision fixturing and testing equipment that must withstand constant, high-force cycles. In the realm of precision equipment, the FT Series provides the stable foundation required for high-accuracy measurement instruments, semiconductor manufacturing equipment stages, and optical alignment devices where minimal deflection under load is critical for maintaining process integrity.