Schaeffler expands its range for machine tools

Turning industry trends into innovative products: Schaeffler expands its range for machine tools

• For peripheral equipment of production machines: new four-row monorail guidance systems of the KLLT series with X-arrangement

• For automation in production plants: new YRTA and YRTAG series of rotary table bearings

• Excellent for short-stroke applications: screw drive bearings with ceramic balls

In the machine tool sector, automation, digitalization and sustainability influence the design of machine architectures as well as key components such as spindles, linear axes and rotary tables. Schaeffler builds on these major industry trends and turns them into innovative bearing and drive solutions, which will be presented at the EMO trade fair 2025.

Four-row monorail guidance systems for automation
Manufacturers need extremely durable, very low-maintenance rotary axis bearing arrangements and linear guidance systems, both for axes outside the machining work envelope and for workpiece and tool handling. They also want automation solutions that offer a new balance between functionality and cost-effectiveness, allowing them to quickly recoup their investments. These are precisely the requirements met by the new four-row monorail guidance systems of the KLLT series with X-arrangement. The systems complement the Schaeffler range of linear guidance systems to meet the specific requirements of peripheral equipment for production machines. KLLT monorail guidance systems are particularly well suited for mounting on substructures with minor form errors without causing significant stresses in the carriage. They thus offer Schaeffler new application possibilities.

New rotary table bearings for automation
For rotary axes that are not used in a machining application, Schaeffler engineers have developed the new YRTA series (A = ?Automation?) based on their proven YRTC series of rotary table bearings. Thanks to a modified manufacturing process and a new needle cage design, these double-direction axial/radial needle roller bearings perfectly meet requirements such as high tilting rigidity, long service life and reduced maintenance.

Sustainability as a development criterion
For driven rotary tables, and especially those not used for simultaneous machining, there is a trend toward the use of geared motors. To reduce the considerable design effort required for a gear-driven rotary axis, as well as installation space, complexity and assembly time, Schaeffler developers have found an innovative solution: YRTC and YRTA rotary table bearings can be ordered with outer diameters in the form of spur or helical gears (YRTCG, YRTAG). This gearing replaces the spur or helical gear of the customer-side gear drive. Depending on the required torque, the inner ring is designed with a suitable width and spur or helical gear teeth. This solution is ideal for driving milling tables and swivel axes and milling heads or automation axes. AMOSIN angle measuring systems can still be integrated into the bearing arrangements and are still offered for these bearings.

New screw and roller drives
With the acquisition of Ewellix and the harmonization of the product range, ground RGT roller screw drives in additional sizes have been added to the Schaeffler Linear Motion portfolio. Customers can now select sizes from 8 to 240 mm with load capacities of up to 4 000 kN.

In the machine tool sector, these roller screw drives are used, for example, in the feed axes of thread rolling machines, in drilling and milling heads and as drives for broaching machines, in other words, where high forces, exact positioning and control of the force-displacement progression are required. Schaeffler offers a wide range of KGT ball screw drives, as well as the PWG planetary roller screw drive for special applications with small leads of less than 1 mm.

Solution for short-stroke applications
If a screw drive bearing is permanently subjected to small pivoting angles, there is a risk that the lubricant will be forced out of the rolling contact zone and the rolling bearing will be damaged due to insufficient lubrication (?false brinelling?). For these applications, Schaeffler offers a simple, practical and effective solution: the double-row angular contact ball bearings of the ZKLN and ZKLF series (with flange mounting) and the three-row DKFLA variant are equipped with ceramic rolling elements. These designs offer a high level of operational reliability for short strokes and when vibrations occur at standstill. The dynamic load rating of the bearing and the calculated life do not change. The use of ceramic rolling elements even doubles the grease life. These bearings reliably prevent downtime and maintenance operations caused by false brinelling.

KLLT monorail guidance systems adapt perfectly to substructures with minor form errors, which is often seen in handling applications and in assembly automation.

With the double-direction axial/radial needle roller bearings of the YRTA series, Schaeffler offers for the first time rolling bearings specially designed for automation solutions for peripheral equipment of machine tools.

A simple, ingenious and patented design: the gear teeth formed on the outside of the rotary table bearing completely replace the helical or spur gear of the gear unit used to drive the rotary axis.

RGT series roller screw drives G5 can be used for the precise movement and positioning of very high loads, for example in drive axes.

Ceramic ball screw bearings (here: ZKLF) deliver excellent results in short-stroke applications.