Linear motion track systems and how they help you

architecture - engineering - construction

Linear motion track systems and how they help you

January 29, 2018

Linear Motion Track Systems: 115RC & 116RC

Linear track systems are making a big splash in residential and commercial applications. That’s because linear tracks bring movement to a bevy of creative applications, making environments more space-efficient and easier to handle.

What is a Linear Track System?

A linear motion track system allows you to move an application, like a panel or even a sliding door, back-and-forth along a rail. There are two main components:

A carriage, also known as a cartridge or cassette
A track, also known as a rail

In systems like the 115RC, the cartridge uses an innovative design—recirculating ball bearings that offset the weight of an application. This allows a user to slide an application (in the 115RC’s case, one up to 265 lbs.) with ease.

In more dramatic instances, as with the heavy-duty 116RC, a user can pull heavy-duty applications of nearly 800 lbs. almost effortlessly. This was the case with a British Children’s Hospital.

An image of an Accuride 116RC used on a large sliding door inside a hospital. The 116RC linear track system supports such heavy-duty applications thanks to a 793 lb. load rating

A close-up of a 116RC mounted onto a large sliding inside of a children’s hospital. The 116RC requires less than 5 lbs. of pull-force, making it compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Usually, both parts are made from light-weight materials, often aluminum with some use of polymers. These materials are also corrosion-resistant, making them useful for outdoor, moist, and other tough environments. This corrosion-resistance also means there’s little need for maintenance.

Linear track systems also support multiple mounting arrangements, including side-, flat-, and vertical-mounting.

Linear Movement Solutions in Action

Thanks to their lightness, load capacity, corrosion-resistance, and precision movement, you can find linear motion track systems in many industries: aviation, medical, logistical, and commercial transportation are just a few.

Some specific industrial applications include:

automotive assembly
tool changer system
medical sample machines
food packaging
parts loaders and unloaders

Linear track systems aren’t just for commercial and industrial use. There’s a burgeoning use for them in homes, especially micro-living spaces. Linear tracks can allow residents to move walls, panels, and certain furniture, creating transformable living spaces.