Lubrication-free linear guides in CNC machine for milling styrofoam

As the polystyrene sticks to all surfaces, self-cleaning drylin® bearings are used.

This CNC machine primarily mills polystyrene. This produces a large amount of small particles that stick to all parts of the machine due to their electrostatic charge. Since the manufacturer has been using a lubricant-free and self-cleaning drylin® linear guidance system from igus® on the X, Y and Z axes, maintenance work is a thing of the past. In addition, the milling machine achieved speeds of up to 50,000 mm/min on the X and Y axes thanks to the system's excellent sliding properties.

Profile

What was needed: drylin® w linear guide
Requirements: Stryropor particles settle on all surfaces and gaps of the machine during milling, resulting in high maintenance costs for the parts
Industry: Mechanical engineering, CNC milling machine
Success for the customer: igus® linear guides are completely lubrication- and maintenance-free and self-cleaning, they also enable high performance at the traversing speeds and significantly reduce the milling time

Other products for machine tools

Milling machine with drylin® linear bearings

Problem

Mat in Mat is a Spanish company that specialises in technological solutions for milling, machining, digital modelling, digital scanning and 3D printing of large-format sculptures.
Various materials can be used for the realisation of such figures; in the case of this CNC machine, mainly polystyrene is milled. However, the special material also posed a particular challenge. When polystyrene is milled, a large number of small particles are produced which, due to their electrostatic charge, adhere to all surfaces and gaps in the machine (even a vacuum system can only minimise the problem, but not completely eliminate it). As conventional linear guides and bearings clog up over time and cause high maintenance costs, a suitable solution was sought.

Solution

Today, the manufacturer relies on a drylin® -W linear guide system from igus® on all three axes, which means that maintenance work is now a thing of the past. Unlike many other linear guides or ball bearings, the linear guides are completely lubrication-free and self-cleaning so that the polystyrene particles cannot mix with a lubricant and thus restrict functionality. The machine manufacturer also benefits from the new solution in terms of performance. With the new linear guide, the milling machine achieves speeds of up to 50,000 mm/min thanks to the excellent sliding properties on the X and Y axes. This also significantly reduces the milling time.

drylin W profile rail guides