Basic Study on Development of A New Linear Guide System with Electrically Controllable Damping Using Liquid Crystalline Polymer

—The Characteristics in Low Shearing Velocity Region—

Abstract

Rolling element linear guide systems are widely used in the industrial machines such as machine tools for the advantages of high-precision, high-rigidity and low-friction. However, the principal disadvantage of such systems is their inferior damping characteristics, which cause the chatter vibrations not only in the servo direction, but also in the lateral direction during machining or motion. In this study, using the ER Fluid (Liquid Crystalline Polymer), a linear guide system with electrically controllable damping is developed. The experiments are carried out and the effectiveness is confirmed.