Types of guides in milling machines, get to know them
The guidance of the milling machines can be of two types, friction or rolling. Below, we explain their differences and the refurbishment process that we do at Nicolás Correa Service.
- Friction guide: It involves sliding a piece over other without any intermediate elements, maintaining a lubricant oil layer between the metal structural part and the guide’s saddle. It is a resistant system, with little vibration and great rigidity.
During the refurbishment of this type of second hand milling machine, Nicolás Correa Service carries out a grinding process and a later manual adjustment of the friction material of the saddle (turcite, teflon or biplast) with the guide, for ensuring a perfect sliding.
Refurbished CORREA CF22 milling machine, available in our stock, is an example for this type of guide.
- Rolling guide: There are two main elements, rollers and linear guideways through which these displace. Linear guideways are usually placed in a structural element such as the bed, and are used as the rail for the recirculating roller pack sliding system which are anchored to the functional part that has to move with them. This system is faster than the previous friction guide system, and also has higher positioning repeatability.
For the retrofitting of this type of CNC milling machines, NC Service verifies the straightness of the linear guideways with a collimator, also carrying out the inspection, repair and/or replacement of the rollers.
The CORREA A30/50 milling machine, being refurbished by NC Service, presents this type of guide.