Abstract
To meet the demands for high speed and high precision, rolling element linear guide systems are widely used in industrial machinery such as machine tools for the advantages of high precision, high rigidity and low friction. However, the principal disadvantage of such a system is its inferior damping characteristics, which may cause serious oscillation problems during operation. In this study, a linear guide system with electrically controlled damping and the capacity to move long strokes and at high speed using a minimal amount of fluid is developed. Liquid crystalline polymer (a homogeneous ER fluid) is used in place of particle-type ER fluid because of its characteristics of high output, near-linearity, and absence of sedimentation and particlecrushing. Some basic experiments are carried out and its advantageous characteristics ascertained.
