Lightweight cantilever axis

The drylin cantilever axes are suitable for a wide range of positioning and adjustment tasks and characterised by low weight and reliability in operation, which makes them ideal for vertical applications. When the system is driven by a gear rack, the mass that is being moved is reduced. With regard to energy saving, power transmission to a gear rack is up to 30% more cost-effective than belt deflection. In addition, it is possible to connect grippers, pick up parts and move.

The benefits at a glance:

High, constant stiffness of the axis regardless of the length of the stroke
High precision
High speeds possible
Freely controllable installation position
Long travels can be implemented

Linear axes with rack and pinion drive

Endless toothed belt linear module with multiple views of the linear guide.

Extensible endless gear linear mould EGW

Solution for long travels
Rack and pinion elements modularly (endlessly) expandable
For applications > 2,000mm
Separate operation of several linear carriages possible at the same time

More information

Toothed-belt table with motor and cables for a linear axis.

Lightweight axis for pick & place drylin GRQ

Toothed, hard anodised, corrosion-free square hollow section
Loads up to 500g with a speed of up to 0.7m/s possible
Drive: NEMA11 stepper motor with gear wheel
Lightweight, fast, small, and lubrication-free

Buy drylin GRQ axis

drylin rack-and-pinion axis with carriage and guide rail in close-up.

Dynamic z-axis drylin GRW

Direct force transfer via gear rack
Compact structure
For loads up to 10N
Material combination: aluminium profile/plastic gear rack
Accessories available
Available with motor

Buy Z-axis drylin GRW

Lightweight z-axis drylin GRR

Lightweight Z-axis (1.45kg) for strokes up to 500mm
Made from aluminium and plastic
Ideal for linear robots
Dynamic mass of only 0.9kg enables fast operation
Also available as larger versions with stroke lengths of up to 1000mm and load capacities of up to 100N

Buy Z-axis drylin GRR

For multi-axis linear robots

For test and measuring equipment

For pick & place applications

Linear drive with rack: advantages and disadvantages

When to use it?

Pick & place application with high dynamics
For compact structure of the application
As z axis in multi-axis gantries

When not to use it?

High loads
Self-locking
Dirt-filled application fields

Structure of an igus gear rack axis (z-axis)

Linear actuator with components marked 1 to 4.

1. Direct force transfer via gear rack

2. Torsional rigidity due to drylin AWMR aluminium hollow shafts

3. Lubrication- and maintenance-free operation with drylin R liners

4. Fast operation due to dynamic mass (0.9kg)

Cantilever axis with toothed belt drive

The drylin ZAW-1040 cantilever axis has a permanently installed drive unit. It is lubrication-free, lightweight and suitable for high accelerations.

Cantilever axis ZAW-1040

Drylin ZAW linear actuator with carriage on a guide rail.

Cantilever axis ZAW-1040

Automation with stepper motors, direct current motors and EC/BLDC motors

For linear axes and handling systems in general, igus offers a wide range of electric motors. Hybrid stepper motors or direct current motors are used in lead screw drives, toothed belts and rack and pinion drives. The electric motors complete the offer of igus in automation. Entire handling systems are can generally be configured in combination with cantilever axes and linear axes with rack and pinion drive.

Find out more about electric motors

Find out more about electric motors

Customer application examples

Automated sample preparation

This machine is to prepare samples in the field of trace analysis. The aim should be to use comparable glassware and chemicals as in similar manual machines. The contract was awarded to igus, as all of the components used, such as the GRW rack axis, were able to impress with absolute resistance to chemicals and dirt.

drylin GRW rack axes provide the necessary accuracy

Rack axis in a control system with an orange energy cable.

Optimal use of the installation space in a bottling plant

A maintenance-free linear robot from igus is used in a customised automation solution for the complex handling of liquids by the company M2-Automation. In addition to the robustness, the linear robot is characterised by its cost-effectiveness. The drylin GRQ racks are used as dosing axes in the form of an z-axis in addition to a variably clampable proximity switch holder and self-aligning plain bearings and ensure the highest precision work during operation.

drylin GRQ rack axes are impressive as dosing axes