drylin EGW - Endless gear linear module

Linear axes with toothed belt drives are used for many handling and positioning tasks. The problem is that from a length of more than 10 meters, the toothed belts start to sag. The elongation of the belt takes driving more difficult. That is why igus developed drylin EGW with a rack and pinion drive. Unlike toothed belt drives, with this system several carriages can move on one rail in different directions at different speeds.Thanks to a modular principle, several rails can be easily assembled and extended to any length easily. Their length (only two metres) significantly simplifies the handling and transport.

The basis is the drylin W guide rail WS-20, a guide rail made of hardanodised aluminium with a round profile, on which the carriages slide. In the middle between the two, there's a profile to receive the rack modules. The second component is the carriage drive with electric motor driving the gear that engages in the gear rack. The third component is a towing carriage, on which a camera or handling units like sensors can be mounted. From linear guide and carriages to cables and energy chains, igus delivers everything from one source – if required, we will deliver your kit ready to install, including motor and control system.

Testing or monitoring tasks can be carried out with repeatability using the modular linear guide, even over verylong travels - whether to inspect train roofs or workpieces in the automobile production. Thanks to corrosion-resistant components, drylin EGW is also suitable for outdoor use. In addition, it convinces with a significantly lowervibration and quieter operation compared to conventional recirculating ball systems. Due to the high-performance plastics used at the bearing points, the linear guide is also lighter, so that less drive energy is required. At the same time, the solid lubricants integrated into the plastic enable low-friction dry operation. The maintenance effort is correspondingly low.

Tests in the in-house laboratory at igus prove how durable drylin EGW is. Should the linear guide eventually reach its wear limit, users can replace the liners directly on the rail in just a few minutes and without dismantling the bearing housings.