Statics modeling and analysis of linear rolling guideway considering rolling balls contact

Abstract

The linear rolling guideway is composed of rail, carriage, rolling balls, and other accessories and contains a large number of rolling interfaces between the rolling balls and the grooves. For such a complex nonlinear mechanical system, it is very significant to obtain the statics deformation and vertical stiffness under different loads for the structural design of guideway and mechanical analysis of Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine tool. Therefore, the focus of this study is on the development of statics modeling techniques of the linear rolling guideway by analytical and finite element methods, considering the rolling balls contact. First, an accurate statics analytical modeling method was proposed by using the Hertz contact theory and revision of experiment results. Then, on the basis of considering contacts between rolling balls and grooves, the precise finite element modeling was studied. To improve the efficiency of analysis, the full finite element model of guideway was replaced by the component finite element model. At last, the created analytical and component finite element models were applied to analyze the effects of load and preload on the statics characteristics of single ball and the whole guideway system. The proposal of current study may provide a reference to create the precise dynamics model of linear rolling guideway.