Schneeberger’s high precision Monorail MR roller guideways are used worldwide for a broad range of mechanical engineering applications: from simple handling tasks to difficult machining processes. The newest generation, the MR 4S series, introduces four major improvements relating to the distribution of lubricants, dirt resistance, shock resistance, and serviceability.

When it is a matter of achieving the highest accuracy in a small space, the Monorails are the best choice. They ensure that linear movements are always performed at high speed and with great accuracy. The preferred areas of application include medical devices, metrologic systems, and laser technology as well as in nanotechnology, microelectronics, and the semiconductor industries. Eight rail widths and four carriage sizes are available. The user has a choice of two accuracy and preload classes.

The new MR 4S series of monorail roller guideways from Schneeberger features a use-oriented lubrication system supported by a wide range of different interfaces. In addition, the type and method of lubrication can be specifically assigned externally. The lubricators and front plate are seal-welded to form pressure-tight lubrication channels, which considerably improves lubrication when operating in idle.

To prevent the ingress of dirt and the loss of lubricant, the carriages are equipped with double-lipped wipers all around. The fixing of the double-lipped cross wiper mounted on the front plate has also been optimized in the new MR 4S series. These plates, in turn, are supported on both sides along the entire cross-section, which ensures reliable functionality even under extreme loads. In addition, the new version is especially easy to service: After first removing the steel front plate, the cross wipers can be exchanged by pulling them up and over the rail in an axial direction.

Another key feature of the MR 4S Monorail guideway are the shock resistant carriages. For example, the front plate is made from stainless steel. It covers a plastic front plate to provide additional protection against damage and contamination. Both plates are fastened to the body of the carriage using the same four screws. This improves stability and ensures continuously good running characteristics. To further improve reliability under heavy loads, even the heavily stressed carriage bodies have been optimized to counteract fatigue stress of notched parts that may occur.

The Monorail MR series is available in the sizes 25, 35, 45, 55 and 65 and the maximum length is 6000 mm (per single rail). The sixth size, the MR 100 is especially strong and is suitable for loads of 150 tons and more. It has a maximum single part length of 3000 mm. Greater travel distances can easily be achieved by linking a number of rail segments together.

All Monorail MR sizes are similar in design. The body of the carriages and the rails are made of high- quality hardened steel. Specially shaped rollers are used as rolling elements which contributes to extreme rigidness and the high dynamic and static load carrying capacity. In the standard version, the carriages can be accelerated by up to 50 m/s2 during normal use and are designed for speeds of up to 3 m/s. Each size is available in a variety of accuracy classes – from G3 (standard), G2, and G1 to the high-precision class, G0. A wide range of accessories and options are available. Expanded operations in combination with the Schneeberger AMS distance measuring system have proven to be especially practical.

Latest product innovations at Schneeberger…
Schneeberger is a leading brand for the profile linear guideways. Apart from this we have integrated direct measurement system (called AMS). It is a very good option if you want to have direct feedback system in your CNC machine. It uses a magnetic strip fully integrated into our profiled guideways, requires no additional set-up, highly reliable that gives you accuracy of +/- 5 micron in a meter. We came up with this in Germany and since then manufacturing them in Germany only.

When it comes to liner guideway technology, what will be the future breakthroughs?
I think it is very important for the linear guideway technology that you have a very robust system, especially in a market like India. In India you see more ball linear guideway instead of roller linear guideways. Roller guideways provides extra accuracy and you can work in near net shape on the workpiece and it will eventually save cost of the user of CNC machine.

Since load is very high onto the guideway, do you see any new material coming up in the near future?
Material changes will come into play more in wiper system so that your linear carriage have long life even in the high load and pressure and also when you have lots of chips and coolants flowing around. We are continuously working on innovation in different kinds of wiper system. We are planning to introduce new wiper system with front cover plate so that you have more robustness in your linear carriage.

How do you see the current market scenario i.e in the machine tool industry?
I think the Indian CNC builders are on a good way to increase the accuracy and enhance the capability by investing in right technology. They are gradually enhancing the productivity level. They are now using roller linear guideways and direct feedback system so that they can find themselves in very critical operation as well which predominately is with foreign brands as of now.

How do you see the Indian market?
India is certainly very big and important market for us. We are present in the Indian market since 2007 and have seen huge growth. India has also come a long way when it comes to the use of technology.

Changes that you have observed in an Indian CNC manufacturers?
They are coming up with better technology. CNC manufacturers in India are now using high end controllers from Fanuc, Siemens and Mitsubishi among others, which is vital for better accuracy like 5-axis machines. Now, they are using profile linear guideways instead of boxways which is very important for speed and accuracy.

Can you name few of your customers in India?
ACE, BFW, JYOTI, TAL are some of the top brands that we serve. We are happy to support our customers to achieve better productivity and higher sales.

How do you plan to tackle competition in the Indian market?
It’s very important for Indian machine tool manufacturers to focus not only on price but also on reliable and good delivery system. As the Indian rupee and banking system is very complicated it becomes difficult to import at times and do business in India. We have to have very good delivery time so that customer can make up for the inefficiencies of the surroundings.

According to you what are those basic differences that you see in global and Indian CNC builders manufacturers?
International machine tool builders, especially who are delivering machines to automobile and aerospace industries, have evolved the techniques used in terms of reliability and higher speed. I think Indian CNC builders still need to improve their technique and accuracy, for example in their direct feedback system.

What was your growth rate in India last year?
We grew more that 30% in terms of sales and hope to continue the same in the coming years.

Market share in India…
When it comes to linear technology in India, we boast of around 20% market share and hope to improve in a few years.

What are the road blocks for Schneeberger in India?
Our main challenge is the banking system. Sometimes it’s very tough to import goods from Europe to India. Infrastructure is the second biggest challenge that we face. If the infrastructure improves, the transportation will be better and will help us deliver our products on time.

There is huge Currency depreciation since last two years, does it affect your business?
I think it is a challenge, but we hope that it will bridge.

Few companies from south eastern countries have become very aggressive in the recent years. What are your views about them?
Of course they are posing a challenge for us, especially when they are more affordable. We try to battle the competition with better technology.

Your general views about the recently held IMTEX…
This is a good place to showcase your technology, your capability in front of potential customers.

The Swiss based company is gearing up to showcase latest advancements in the guideway and linear technology at the upcoming machine tool show IMTEX going to held in bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) from January 22nd – 28th. Hall no 5 and stall A113 will be the stage to witness all these technologies from Schneeberger. The company will be showcasing Micro frictionless tables type MINISLIDE, MONORAIL BM Profiled Linear Ball Guideways, RN linear bearing and many advanced integrated measuring system among others.

MINISLIDE is the latest generation of miniature slides for high-tech applications. Preloaded with zero play, a MINISLIDE is exceptionally smooth running. High rigidity and a low push force of less than 1 N will satisfy even the highest demands.

The very precise MONORAIL profiled guide ways are used worldwide in many machine tool applications. A widespread product program is covering the requirements from small manipulators till heavy chipping processes. SCHNEEBERGER’s MONORAIL BM ball guideway features excellent dynamic properties and many commercial benefits. Designed with a small number of cleverly arranged components, it provides for excellent running properties due to the small number of transitions in the ball tracks, which lead to very quiet running, low pulsation and low friction as well as high travel speeds. The use of a trapezoidal rail section results in an extremely rigid guideway coupled with a substantial reduction in servicing time as additional wipers can be changed without dismantling the carriage. Complete sealing of the carriage guarantees maximum reliability coupled with a long service life.

The RN linear bearing represents a consistent optimization of the R linear bearing. Thanks to the enlarged contact surface of the roller with the guideway, the performance capacitiy is significantly increased, with unchanged fitting dimensions. The features of the RN include: – approx. 3x higher load carrying capacity – significantly reduced susceptibility to cage drift – reduced danger of contamination due to narrower gap between individual guides.

MINISLIDE – The last word in productivity
MINISLIDE is the latest generation of miniature slides for high-tech applications. Preloaded with zero play, a MINISLIDE is exceptionally smooth running. High rigidity and a low push force of less than 1 N will satisfy even the highest demands.

Process stability due to the elimination of cage creeping.
No more cage creeping with a MINISLIDE. Sizes 4 and 5 contain a centring mechanism and sizes 7, 9, 12 and 15 incorporate a sophisticated SCHNEEBERGER cage control system. SCHNEEBERGER is thus the first company to put miniature slides onto the market that meet the demands of modern high-tech applications: maximum dynamics matched by a consistently high level of reliability.
The individual benefits you gain from the integral cage control system are as follows:

• Trouble-free operation which means more productive time
• High speeds and rates of acceleration allow faster motion and thus reduce cycle times
• No readjustment of the cage, not even when installed vertically
• The design and tolerances of the surrounding structure or differences in temperature do not result in cage creeping
• Long service life

The very precise MONORAIL profiled guide ways are used worldwide in many machine tool applications. A widespread product program is covering the requirements from small manipulators till heavy chipping processes.

SCHNEEBERGER’s MONORAIL BM ball guideway features excellent dynamic properties and many commercial benefits. Designed with a small number of cleverly arranged components, it provides for excellent running properties due to the small number of transitions in the ball tracks, which lead to very quiet running, low pulsation and low friction as well as high travel speeds. The use of a trapezoidal rail section results in an extremely rigid guideway coupled with a substantial reduction in servicing time as additional wipers can be changed without dismantling the carriage. Complete sealing of the carriage guarantees maximum reliability coupled with a long service life.

This robust and economical guideway rounds off SCHNEEBERGER’s range of products for industrial applications with high demands on speed, reliability and consistant running properties.

Advantages

• High rigidity and high load-bearing capacities in all directions
• Quite, smooth running with diminished pulsation and low friction
• Speed up to 5 m/s and acceleration up to 100 m/s²
• Great variety of carriage and rail types for a broad range of applications
• Single piece rail length up to 6 m
• Long service life-easy and cost-saving maintenance
• Wide scope of accessories and options
• Different coatings for corrosion protection
• Integrated length measuring system available
• Integrated rack as an option