Model for wear prediction of roller linear guides

Abstract The roller linear guide is a type of precision linear motion component that is widely used in computer numerical control machine tools. Stiffness and wear directly influence the performance and service life of roller linear guides. Thus, investigating stiffness and wear is important in optimizing the design and improving the performance of roller linear guides. In this study, we analyze the contact mechanics between the roller and raceway and the deformation of the roller. We also establish a calculation model of the contact stiffness based on the Palmgren formula and rigid body dynamics. By using the Archard wear theory, we analyze the wear process of roller linear guides. Furthermore, we develop a calculation model of the displacement of the slider, which is due to the wear loss of the slider's raceway in its reciprocating motion under loading, to predict the wear of roller linear guides. The effectiveness of the proposed models on contact stiffness and wear prediction is verified through simulations and experiments on a specialized test system.