Motion Control – Tutorial
Considerations when specifying a linear slide for a new or existing application.
By Mike Quinn • LM76
When a design engineer has fully defined a linear-motion application’s requirements regarding travel length, speed, force, and accuracy as well as repeatability, the next question to answer is this:
Does an off-the-shelf linear slide (or a stock linear slide from a catalog) fully satisfy the application?

Off-the-shelf linear slides are advantageous for their quick delivery and lower cost than that of custom components. No wonder most linear-motion designs do in fact employ off-the-shelf linear slides from various component and system suppliers.
