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Real contact total length of linear motion roller guide without preload based on Greenwood-Williamson rough contact model

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Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science

Published online on

Abstract

In traditional studies of linear motion roller guide, the static stiffness is a main indicator to evaluate the mechanical behavior. However, the local contact profile between the roller and raceway surface, although very important to the precision maintenance, cannot be reflected in the measured value of static stiffness. In this article, a new indicator, named the real contact total length (RCTL), is proposed based on the Greenwood–Williamson model and the Hertz contact theory. In particular, an electric contact model is presented where the RCTL of linear motion roller guide without preload is expressed in terms of the measured electric resistances. To verify the model, an experiment is conducted to measure the electric resistances under different vertical loads by a designed load test bench and a digital, direct-current, high-resolution electric resistance meter (DRRM). The test results show good agreement with the model. Based on the electric contact model, the main parameters that affect the RCTL value are roughness Ra and the length of roller, which are directly related to the mechanical behavior of linear motion roller guide in the design and manufacture stages.