Choosing the Right 
Linear Bushing
NB Europe explains how load, speed and  
alignment influence bearing performance, and what  
to consider when specifying linear motion systems.
Linear bushings are widely used wherever 
components must move smoothly and 
precisely along a shaft. They are used 
in automation equipment, production 
machines, measuring systems, and  
transportation, wherever repeatability and 
long service life are crucial.
With increasing machine speeds and 
the miniaturisation of equipment, 
the demands placed on linear bush 
bearings are also increasing. Higher 
loads, faster motion, and minor 
installation  inaccuracies can negatively 
impact the performance and durability 
of conventional bushings.
One way to address these challenges is to 
use recirculating ball technology. Nippon 
Bearing’s TOPBALL series uses ground 
raceways instead of pressed raceways, 
and the bearing plates are equipped with 
a ground arc profile. This geometry is 
designed to provide a more even load 
distribution across the rolling elements.
According to the technical data, this 
design allows for a load capacity up 
to three times greater than that of 
conventional linear ball bushings, and 
under certain operating conditions, 
service life can be up to 27 times longer. 
The maximum operating speed is 5 
m/s, making this technology suitable 
for applications requiring both high load 
capacity and good dynamic performance.
Another advantage of this design is 
the ability to compensate for small 
misalignments. Bearings in this series can 
compensate for angular misalignments 
of up to 1° in any direction. This is 
particularly useful in devices where 
maintaining perfect shaft alignment 
relative to the housing is difficult, for 
example because of mounting tolerances, 
shaft deflection or displacement of the 
supporting structure.
A practical example of this application 
is overhead conveyor systems. These 
are used to transport workpieces within 
manufacturing plants and often utilise 
lightweight aluminium structures to 
reduce overall weight and cost. In 
such cases, the structure itself and 
its weight can affect shaft alignment, 
making the ability to compensate for 
small misalignments a particularly 
valuable feature.
Similar requirements apply to passenger 
transportation systems. Sliding doors 
in trains, trams, buses, and mountain 
gondolas must operate smoothly 
and reliably during repeated opening 
and closing cycles. At the same time, 
these components can be exposed 
to significant fluctuations in ambient 
temperature, from hot summers to cold, 
snowy winters. The optimal operating 
temperature range for these bearings is 
-20°C to +80°C. 
This example illustrates a broader 
trend in linear motion technology: as 
devices become faster, lighter, and more 
precise, the bearing element itself can 
have a significant impact on the overall 
performance of the machine. Instead of 
simply replacing a conventional bushing 
with a higher-capacity element, the design 
process also considers factors such 
as bearing geometry, load distribution, 
and the ability to compensate for 
mounting tolerances.
Advanced engineering provides an 
example of how changes in linear bearing 
design can meet these requirements 
while maintaining the fundamental 
advantages of the shaft-bush system.
Contact here:
+31 252 463 200 
info@nbeurope.com 
www.nbeurope.com
Illustrations of Linear 
Bushings in practice
TOPBALL Linear Bushing
52

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