IKO Technical Resource Page
Various takes on maintenance free linear guides and ways have been around for years now, but not all of them are created equal. Some focus on achieving the longest possible maintenance free intervals. Others focus on adding as little as possible to the size of the bearing’s mechanical package. IKO’s C-Lube linear guides have a unique design that balances both of these key objectives.
These long-term maintenance free linear guides make use of IKO’s proprietary C-Lube lubricating elements. Made from sintered resin powder with a steel backing, C-Lube elements have an open porous structure that can be impregnated with large amounts of oil. Depending on the type of linear guide, the C-Lube elements are formed into either a plate or sleeve shape and integrated into the bearing’s slider. They then release the impregnated oil slowly through direct, continual contact with the linear guide’s internal rolling elements.
Thanks to this on-going lubrication, C-Lube linear guides provide maintenance free operation for 20,000 km or five years–a maintenance free term that often equates to the entire application life.
C-Lube technology spans the full range of linear guide styles, including:
Roller Guides
Ball-Rail Guides
Ball-Spline Guides
For a more detailed overview of how C-Lube works to extend linear guide life, read this technical article.