KRISTIANSTAD, SWEDEN – Thomson, a provider of innovative linear units and guidance systems, has been offering its customers linear units in various designs for many years. Belt- and screw-driven systems are available to suit requirements, guided on linear slide bearings, rolls or balls. Belt-driven systems with stroke lengths of up to 12 metres as standard are already available. Special designs with longer stroke lengths can also be requested. Belt-driven units are preferable in applications such as packaging and handling, that require high throughput, fast cycle times and a minimum amount of maintenance. With specially protected designs in S1 or S2 stainless steel, these solutions can be used in harsh, wet operating environments such as abattoirs and dairies or in food and paper processing.

Linear units with ball screws – slide- or ball-guided – are superior to belt driven units thanks to particularly high thrust and payloads coupled with high adjustment accuracy and system rigidity. Even the standard stroke lengths of these systems go up to 11 metres. Customer-specific special solutions with considerably longer stroke lengths are also possible. Niklas Sjostrom from Thomson Linear: “Thomson is one of very few global manufacturers who can deliver these kinds of stroke lengths as standard product offering. We also understand the value of the high degree of flexibility we provide to our customers when they come to us with special requirements. This gives us a definite advantage over our competitors.”

The screw support assembly developed and patented by Thomson is one of the factors pushing Thomson ahead of the competition. The advanced design makes it possible to use spindles with extended stroke lengths, while still being able to apply maximum motor speed without the risk of twisting or bending the spindle. This is something normally only offered by systems with considerably shorter stroke lengths. Thomson offers a high-performance support system that has proved its worth with linear units in a wide array of applications from pick & place systems to machine handling. The support system guarantees accurate and smooth operation, even over extremely long adjustment tracks.

Like belt driven units, these solutions can also be used in harsh environments, as the system is hermetically sealed against infiltrating dirt and dust and the optional S1 stainless steel design makes it possible to operate when exposed to humidity and moisture, without worrying about corrosion of the components. The user also benefits from the extremely low maintenance required, as the central lubricating system works with a single lubrication point.

For customer-specific solutions, Thomson provides a high degree of flexibility when it comes to finding the best possible solution, even for difficult requirements and operating conditions. A precise specification is initially developed in close cooperation with the customer, then the potential system designs are considered in terms of their advantages and disadvantages.

About Thomson

With more than 60 years of motion control innovation and quality, Thomson is the industry’s premier producer of Linear Ball Bushing® Bearings and Profile Rail Bearings, 60 Case? Shafting, ground and rolled Ball Screws, Linear Actuators, Gearheads, Clutches, Brakes, Linear Systems, and related accessories. Thomson invented the Linear Ball Bushing Bearing in 1945, and has set the standard ever since with an unsurpassed set of mechanical motion control solutions serving global commercial and aerospace & defense markets. Thomson Industries, Inc. has facilities in North America, Europe and Asia with over 2000 distributor locations around the world.

Thomson, 1500?Mittel Boulevard, Wood Dale, IL 60191-1073; 1-540-633-3549; 1-540-633-0294 (fax);?Thomson@thomsonlinear.com; www.thomsonlinear.com.