11 Ball Guide Manufacturers in 2024
This section provides an overview for ball guides as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 11 ball guide manufacturers and their company rankings.
Table of Contents
What Is a Ball Guide?
A ball guide is a guiding component that utilizes the rolling capability of a ball to enable linear motion with minimal friction. Ball guides are primarily installed on shafts to facilitate low-friction linear motion along the shaft's longitudinal axis. In addition to ball guides, there are roller guides that share similarities with ball guides.
A typical low-friction ball bearing is an example of a ball bearing. While this type of bearing primarily supports rotational motion rather than linear motion, it employs the same principle of achieving low friction through the rotation of balls.
Applications of Ball Guides
Ball guides are predominantly utilized as integral components of linear motion mechanisms in machinery. Due to their function in reducing friction, they are seldom employed in isolation but rather in conjunction with a stage or bracket where a shaft is utilized to compensate for vibrations or to support the conveyance of objects.
Various types of ball guides exist, including ball bushings and linear bushings with a cylindrical shape designed to fit onto a shaft, as well as linear guides with a flattened structure that can also serve as a stage.
Principles of Ball Guides
Ball guides comprise a guidepost, a ball retainer, and a bush. The ball guides operate by applying pressure to facilitate the rolling of balls between the bush and the guidepost. While they offer cost-effectiveness, their load capacity is slightly lower compared to roller guides.
Linear guides have a structure where balls make contact with the rail surface, and they include ball rolling grooves. Consequently, they offer a higher allowable load capacity, meaning they can move the ball while bearing a load. However, this complexity and enhanced performance come at a higher cost.
Linear bushings, on the other hand, are compact and lack rolling grooves. As a result, the contact area of the ball is smaller, and their allowable load capacity is lower. Essentially, they are used for guiding rather than bearing loads. For instance, they can be employed as guides for linear motion along the longitudinal axis of a shaft fixed to a bearing.
List of 11 Ball Guide Manufacturers
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
- Default
- Company Size: largest first
- Year Founded: oldest first
- Year Founded: earliest first
Sort by Area
- United States of America
- Japan
- Taiwan
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LinTech
Rail Linear Guides
Manufacturer Overview
LinTech was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Monrovia, California. The company is a manufacturer that also designs and engineers positioning components and systems for use in a wide range of linear motion control applications for customers in aerospace, food processing, machine tool, semiconductor, and other markets. The company offers a range of products from linear ball bushings & shafts to ball screw assemblies, rotary stages, and more. The company offers extensive technical support and customer service including assistance with CAD files.
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Rockford Ball Screw Co.
BALL SCREW
Manufacturer Overview
Rockford Ball Screw, a company founded in 1973, based in Rockford, Illinois, is a manufacturer and supplier of ball screws. The company offers flagship products which include ball screws and guide rail products with various configurations and custom specifications. The products are desigend with the latest advanced technology in ball-screw and linear guide rail technology. These products are used in multiple commercial and industrial machinery applications. The company also offers services and repairs with unique linear motion techniques.
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Schaeffler Group USA Inc.
Linear ball bearing and guideway assemblies
Manufacturer Overview
Schaeffler Group USA Inc. (SGUS) is an American manufacturer and supplier of automotive products and solutions established in 1946 as the North American subsidiary of the Shaeffler Group, which operates globally. Based in Fort Mill, South Carolina, the company manufactures standard engine, transmission and chassis products such as torsion dampers, valve train systems, and camshaft phasing units. They also produce aftermarket repair solutions like clutch and release systems, as well as various industrial bearings and linear motion systems. SGUS primarily supplies the automotive sector, as well as the industrial operations of various industries including rail, green energy, and aerospace.
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Accu-Tech USA
BALL SCREWS
Company Overview
Accu-Tech USA, established in 2008 and headquartered in Wake Forest, North America, is a manufacturer and distributor of automation and motion control machinery. The company specializes in inventive products, applications, engineering support, and machining services. It offers many automation products, including linear motion products, ball screws, linear guideways, actuators, and collaborative robots. Established as a part of the JHOSTER group, it provides comprehensive solutions encompassing engineering design, customization, and unparalleled service. The company offers tailored automation solutions with engineering design, premium service, and comprehensive customer support.
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Precision Motion Industries, INC.
Ball Guide
Manufacturer Overview
PMI GROUP is a manufacturer of ball screws, precision ball screw splines, linear guideways, ball splines, and actuators based in Taiwan and established in 1990. Their ball screw product portfolio includes precision ground ball screws, rolled ball screws, automation industry specialized types, and ball screws with cooling systems. The company offers wide-rail, heavy load, ball chain, roller chain, and compact-type linear guideways These components are applied to electric discharging machines, wire cutting machines, semiconductor equipment, precision orientation equipment, and plastics injection machines in the medical, rail transit, automotive, renewable energy, and electronic industries.
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THK U.K.
LM Guide
Manufacturer Overview
THK Co., Ltd. was incorporated in 1946 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. THK is a manufacturer and supplier of machine components such as linear motion components for customers globally. THK’s products are used in many industries including electronics, aerospace, industrial robots, and precision instruments. THK’s primary product categories are Linear Motion, Feed Screw, Rotation, Custom Assemblies, and Seismic Isolation. Linear Motion products assist in linear motion and transportation. They include linear motion actuators, guides, and rollers. Feed screws include ball screws, screw nuts, and change nuts. Seismic Isolation includes both large systems and small guides.
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Thomson
Carriage - Rail Assembly
Manufacturer Overview
Thomson Industries, headquartered in the United States, is a global manufacturer of motion control solutions since 1936. They have been one of the forerunners in the motion technology industry with products supplying optimized motion solutions to a broad range of industries and application areas including factory automation, medical, aerospace and defense, and more. The company merged with Regal Rexnord in 2023 as a key business in the automation and specialty platform. As part of Regal Rexnord, they are even more equipped to provide complete system solutions through their control, drive, power transmission and precision linear motion technologies.
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NSK Americas, Inc.
Linear Guides
Manufacturer Overview
NSK Americas, Inc., founded in 1973 with headquarters in the USA and facilities worldwide, is a global manufacturer of bearings, automotive components, and precision machinery. The company's product line includes numerous bearings, direct-drive motors, cartesian robots, automotive wheel hub units, and steering systems. NSK's products are used in various manufacturing industries for optimized production and automation, including automotive, chemical processing, construction, steel, and consumer product manufacturing markets. An example is the company's Monocarriers MCH Series, which features high-rigidity rails used for cantilever beams and other factory automation applications.
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Ewellix
Linear guides
Manufacturer Overview
Ewellix is based in Göteborg, Sweden, and is a manufacturer of linear motion and actuation solutions originally founded in 1968 as SKF Motion Technologies before being acquired by Triton Partners in 2018. The company’s products include ball and roller screws, lifting columns, and linear guides. These are mainly used by clients in the medical device production, automated assembly design, and mobile machinery markets. The company also offers training events, tool guides, and machine performance optimization software.
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Bosch Rexroth
Ball Rail Systems
Manufacturer Overview
Bosch Rexroth’s origins date back to 1795 and is now based in Lohr am Main, Germany. Bosh Rexroth is a manufacturer of industrial and mobile equipment control and motion products and systems. Bosch Rexroth’s products are divided into 10 technology segments. First is assembly technology which includes modular components. Next are electronic drives and controls which include CNC and motion control. Industrial hydraulics and linear motion technology follow. Mobile hydraulics, electronics, and IoT include solutions for mobile machines. Gear technology includes planetary gearboxes. The final four segments are molding and casting technology, tightening technology, resistance welding, and mobile robotics.
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NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTD.
Stroke Rotary Bushing Series
Company Overview
Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd. - IKO is based in Japan and was established in 1950 as a manufacturer of bearings. The company designs Linear Motion Rolling guides and Mechatronics series and they were the first to produce Needle Roller Bearings. These products have vast applications in various industries as they are used in Electronics-related Devices and Equipment like semiconductors and for precision devices that are used in laboratory measuring instruments and medical equipment. Textile, printing, construction, transportation, and robotics are also on the list of industries that benefit from IKO products.
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Ball Guide Manufacturer Ranking
*Including some distributors, etc.Number of Employees
- NSK Americas, Inc.: 30,577
- THK U.K.: 13,502
- NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTD.: 2,673
Newly Established Company
- Precision Motion Industries, INC.: 1990 (34 years ago)
- Rockford Ball Screw Co.: 1973 (51 years ago)
- THK U.K.: 1971 (53 years ago)
Company with a History
- NSK Americas, Inc.: 1916 (108 years ago)
- THK U.K.: 1971 (53 years ago)
- LinTech: 1971 (53 years ago)
Ball Guide Manufacturers in United States
*Including some distributors, etc.
Global Distribution of Ball Guide Manufacturers by Country
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
United States of America
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4 | 57.1% |
Japan
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2 | 28.6% |
Taiwan
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1 | 14.3% |
List of Ball Guide Products
30 products are listed.
Ozak Seiko Co., Ltd.
Ball falling prevention linear guide standard LGH (H type) series
40+ people viewing
Last viewed: 17 hours ago
The rails and bearings are completely compatible, and the ball does not fall off even if they are removed. The bearing is shipped with a lithium so...
Ozak Seiko Co., Ltd.
Ball falling prevention Linear guide standard LGS (S type) series
40+ people viewing
Last viewed: 17 hours ago
The rails and bearings are completely compatible, and the ball does not fall off even if they are removed. The bearing is shipped with a lithium so...
Ozak Seiko Co., Ltd.
Ball falling prevention linear guide standard LGH-F (H-type with flange) series
30+ people viewing
Last viewed: 17 hours ago
The rails and bearings are completely compatible, and the ball does not fall off even if they are removed. The bearing is shipped with a lithium so...
Ozak Seiko Co., Ltd.
Ball falling prevention Linear guide standard LGS-S (S type short) series
30+ people viewing
Last viewed: 17 hours ago
The rails and bearings are completely compatible, and the ball does not fall off even if they are removed. The bearing is shipped with a lithium so...
Sunk Japan Co., Ltd.
Linear module with empty pressure drive and ball bushing guide KLM
40+ people viewing
Last viewed: 14 hours ago
Advantages and benefits ■ Double bearing for guide shafts in the ball bush High bearing load, repeat accuracy <0.015 mm ■ Built -in shock absorber...
