This section provides an overview for cross rollers as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 7 cross roller manufacturers and their company rankings.
Table of Contents
There are two types of crossed rollers: crossed roller guides and crossed roller ways, which guide linear motion, and crossed roller bearings and crossed roller rings, which are a type of rolling bearing.
Both products use multiple rollers (mainly cylindrical parts made of steel). Adjacent rollers have a relative angle of 90 degrees to each other and are arranged in an alternating array.
The rollers are arranged in a straight line for those that guide linear motion.
A rolling bearing supports the rotational motion, so the rollers are arranged in a circle.
Guides for linear motion are mainly used in the drive units of precision machines and industrial robots. As the name suggests, they are used to guide linear motion, especially in fields where high rigidity is required.
Rolling bearings (cross rollers) are mainly used in industrial robots and construction machinery. Compared to other bearing types, they provide higher rigidity for the space required and are used in areas where particularly high rigidity is required.
Linear motion guides and rolling bearings are used in very different ways. Which one is used depends on whether the motion to be supported is linear or rotational.
In a linear motion guide, two pillars with V-shaped rolling surfaces at a 90-degree angle are arranged to align the rolling surfaces, and the rollers are placed in the space (square gap) between the two aligned V-shaped pillars. The rollers are arranged in a square-shaped clearance.
This arrangement makes it possible to have a smaller size and higher rigidity than similar products with built-in balls.
As a motion-guiding component, the columns with rolling surfaces have mounting holes for relatively easy installation. The mounting holes can be selected by checking the catalogs of various manufacturers.
Rolling bearings have rollers arranged alternately between the inner and outer rings, which have concave V-shaped transfer surfaces and guides for linear motion.
This arrangement makes it possible to increase the rigidity of the central axis of the shaft and housing against the force to tilt the shaft and housing compared to other bearings.
Thus, for example, they are sometimes used to support loads in areas close to the foundation of industrial articulated robots, such as a person's arms and fingers.
Some rolling bearings come standard with various mounting holes for easy mounting. Selection can be made by checking the catalogs of multiple manufacturers.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Hiwin Technologies Corp. was established in 1989 in Taichung, Taiwan, with subsidiaries across Asia, Europe, and the United States. The company is the first linear motion and motion control product manufacturer in the world to attain ISO-9001 and ISO-14001 certification and serves industries such as medical laboratories, packaging, metal fabrication, and general automation. The company uses CAD technology to design products such as linear guideways, ball screws & supports, torque motors, and industrial robotics machines.
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.
Takeuchi Precision Works Co., Ltd, established in 1964, is a manufacturer of machine element components, including ball bushings, feed screws, linear guides, ball screws, and linear shafts, headquartered in Fukushima, Japan. The company offers standard, round, and square-shaped ball splines in long, flange, flange double, standard double, and flange long types. Its ball bushings are available in housing, self-aligning flange, flange, and straight shape standard types with a single-length bearing or high-load capacity double-length bearing. TSK has achieved ISO 9001 & ISO 14001 certifications allowing its products to be used in control equipment, including CNC machine tools, medical equipment, and industrial robots.
TPI Bearings (Tung Pei Industrial Co., Ltd), established in 1966 and based in Taiwan, is a manufacturer of custom design bearings. The company offers various products, such as deep groove ball bearings, cross roller bearings, fluid dynamic bearings, and angular contact ball bearings. The company’s products are used in different industries, such as machine tools, motorcycles, automotive, electrical, and IT. The company uses special treatment to process bearings for car transmission applications. The company keeps developing heat recycling, solar, wind, and ORC systems.
SF Technology CO., LTD, founded in 2010 and headquartered in Tainan City, Taiwan, is a manufacturer of precision motion components and motion control products. The company specializes in manufacturing optimal-precision linear stages, rotary stages, and motion control systems designed to deliver robust accuracy and stability in various applications. The products are utilized for their precision, repeatability, and robust construction, making them ideal for industries such as semiconductor manufacturing, biotechnology, aerospace, and photonics. These components and solutions enable customers to achieve precise and controlled movement in their equipment and processes. It operates globally under SFT brand, and is ISO9001:2005 certified.
Luoyang Huigong Bearing Technology Co., Ltd. is a manufacturer of bearings and bearing components. Established in 1998, the company is headquartered in Luoyang, Henan, China. The company's main activities involve designing and producing multiple types of bearings and bearing components. Its product range includes Thin-section bearings, Tapered roller bearings, Cylindrical roller bearings, Slewing bearings and Ball bearings. The company provide solutions for industrial robots, wind turbine, metallurgy, mining, and medical device industries. Luoyang Huigong Bearing offers services like customized bearing solutions and technical assistance.
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.
Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 2 | 28.6% |
Japan | 2 | 28.6% |
Taiwan | 2 | 28.6% |
China | 1 | 14.3% |