The THK LM Guide Actuator Caged Ball LM Guide Actuator SKR46 represents a significant advancement in linear motion technology, integrating a precision ball screw with a robust LM guide mechanism to deliver exceptional accuracy, rigidity, and load capacity in a compact, unified assembly. This actuator is engineered with a unique caged ball design within the LM guide block, where precision-engineered balls are individually retained in a polymer cage. This configuration drastically reduces friction and heat generation by minimizing ball-to-ball contact, allowing for higher operating speeds, reduced torque requirements, and significantly quieter, smoother motion compared to conventional recirculating ball designs. The elimination of ball-to-ball contact also prevents skidding and reduces wear, contributing to extended service life and consistent performance even under high-load, high-speed conditions.
Key technical features include the high-rigidity LM guide with four rows of load-carrying balls arranged in a Gothic arch groove profile, providing equal load capacity in all directions—radial, reverse-radial, and lateral. This ensures stable, precise linear guidance without deflection under moment loads. The integrated precision ball screw offers high positioning accuracy with lead errors as low as several microns per 300mm travel, backed by preloading to eliminate backlash and enhance repeatability. The actuator is available with various ball screw lead options to optimize for speed or resolution, and it can be supplied with pre-assembled support units and motor mounts for simplified installation. Sealing systems with multiple wipers and grease retainers protect the rolling elements from contaminants like dust, chips, and moisture, making it suitable for harsh environments.
Performance advantages are substantial, starting with the ability to achieve speeds up to 5 m/s and accelerations exceeding 30 m/s², thanks to the reduced friction and heat of the caged ball system. This design also allows for smoother velocity transitions and more precise stop-and-go operations, critical in high-cycle automation. The high rigidity and load capacity—supporting moments up to 3,800 Nm and dynamic loads exceeding 60 kN—enable the actuator to handle heavy payloads without sacrificing accuracy. Maintenance intervals are extended due to lower wear rates, and the inherent smoothness reduces vibration transmission to sensitive components.
Typical applications leverage these strengths across demanding sectors. In industrial machinery, the SKR46 is ideal for high-speed CNC machining centers performing rapid tool changes, precision grinding and milling slides, and automated assembly robots requiring fast, accurate positioning. Within automotive manufacturing systems, it excels in high-duty-cycle welding and gluing robots, precision press-feeding equipment, and engine component transfer lines where reliability under continuous operation is paramount. For precision equipment, this actuator is deployed in semiconductor wafer handling and inspection stages, medical device assembly automation, and optical alignment systems where sub-millimeter accuracy, minimal vibration, and quiet operation are essential for product quality and process integrity.