Pillow Blocks Supply Gentle Lift on CW Shaw Bed of Nails Exhibit

July 23, 2010 - Rockford, IL

“How much do you trust your linear bearing technology?” That is the type of question PBC Linear asks design engineers on multiple different projects demanding reliable performance, long product life, and simple integration. On a bed-of-nails lift table application, the question becomes more to the point. For linear ball-bearings, any slight contamination of the bearing cages can lead to breakage, stalling or total machine failure; which results in a low rate of confidence when lying on a spiky table.

CW Shaw Inc, a designer and fabrication firm that specializes in bringing interactive, fun and educational museum exhibits to life was posed with this problem. After considering the design, load, environment and necessary long-term operation, CW Shaw opted for Simplicity pillow block housings to guide the support....

Uni-guide Modular Systems for Hartness Automation

Uni-Guide Provides Hartness with Perfect-Fit Packaging Solution

July 22, 2010 - Rockford, IL

An automated packaging line can vastly improve a company’s productivity and cost efficiency; however variant box sizes used by different company’s creates a logistics nightmare for packaging system designers. Hartness Automation, a manufacturing process design firm based out of Greenville, SC, decided to implement manual adjustment into their packaging grippers for quick sizing and re-sizing of boxes. To devise a solution, Hartness identified PBC Linear’s Uni-Guide as a viable product to complete this task due to the linear slide’s ability for high tolerance of moment load, simple design and multiple carriages with custom options.

The application tasks required were relatively simple: manual positioning and locking of the package grippers into place to adjust for the size of the box. The solution would necessitate robust design, simple integration....

Integral-V™ Linear Guides vs. V-Roller Bearings

July 21, 2010 - Rockford, IL

Don’t forget to check out PBC Linear’s two newly released whitepapers comparing competing technologies with Integral-V™ Technology (IVT): the next-gen linear guide solution. PBC Linear Senior System Design Engineer Kevin Bischel provides the reader with an objective comparison between IVT, profile rail and V-roller technology on potential applications, alignment, performance and cost.

Integral-V™ allows for a new way to specify linear guidance into aluminum structures. Hardened steel races are embedded directly into aluminum rails to eliminate fasteners and drastically reduce assembly time. The rails are precision machined using PBC Linear’s proprietary SIMO® process; making it possible to design IVT into existing structures or create a customized extrusion that simplifies the overall assembly, improves....

Linear Solutions for Military and Defense

PBC Linear Components Absorb High Forces in Hostile Environments

April 12, 2010 - Rockford, IL

For harsh environment with heavy particulate debris, plane bearing technology is second to none. PBC Linear has recently been working to fully illustrate this point by proving their Simplicity® linear plane bearing in one of the most demanding applications. Installed in rifle gun mount assemblies to replace failing bronze bushings, the Simplicity® bearings excelled in absorbing high shock forces, even under the added stress of combatting sand, dirt, heat and lack of lubrication.

The Application: Harsh desert conditions work to restrict linear motion performance in rifle gun mounts installed into light infantry vehicles. Micro diameter dust particles permeated through wear seals and seized all travel for the bronze bushings outfitted to absorb gun recoil. Extreme temperatures, heavy vibration and....

Simplicity Tailered bearings for your linear applications

Customized Bearings for Enhanced Application Performance

May 11, 2010 - Rockford, IL

Need a special adjustment to an existing product? PBC Linear is up to the task. We can specially modify, integrate or adjust our products to custom-fit your application. From additional tap holes, lengths and mounting to fully optimized bearing solutions.

Custom bearings and bearing assemblies can be designed (or re-designed) to solve specific application problems, lengthen service intervals, improve equipment performance or save energy. PBC Linear welcomes the opportunity to explore how a new design, or an existing updated design, can result in longer bearing life, and better bearing performance. Since 1983, PBC Linear™, A Pacific Bearing Company has been an in-house manufacturer of linear bearings and specialized bearing materials for automotive, medical, packaging and....

Tell Us How We Are Doing

Request a Quote
Ask a Question
Give Feedback on a Product
Recomend an Improvement
Write a Review
Submit an Application Story

Video in Motion

Low-Profile Uni-Guide (UGA)?
Click here to watch our new
video highlighting several new
performance advantages
and applications.

PBC Linear's Product Selection

(Product quick links)

Round Shaft Technology (RST)

Round Shaft Technology utilizes precision round shafting as the guide way, and combines with linear plane bearings or linear ball bearings for movement. While the shafting is often hardened steel, other materials such as stainless steel and hard anodized aluminum are also readily available. All materials are available in the standard industry sizes. RST self lubricating linear plain bearings and linear ball bearings are available wide variety of configurations, and offer solutions for an extensive range of applications. Support rails for round shafting coupled with open bearings offer additional rigidity for heavier loads. Flanged bearings and pillow blocks offer a variety of mounting configurations.

Simplicity® linear plane and linear ball bearings in imperial, ISO metric, and JIS metric sizes
Closed, open, and flanged styles in bearing only and housed assemblies
Selection of shaft materials, length, and configurations

Linear Actuator Technology (LAT)

Linear Actuator Technology (LAT) is your ideal choice for automated positioning, transfer and guidance. We offer a full assortment of actuators to meet any application needs. Choose from belt, ball-screw, lead screw or un-driven systems complete with a number of mounting and performance accessories. Require a multi-axis solution? PBC Linear will work with your design team to create a sophisticated assembly that simplifies processes, improves performance and saves on cost.

Uni-Guide Driven Systems

Telescopic Guiding Technology (TGT)

PBC Linear’s roller-based Telescopic Guiding Technology uses extremely versatile mechanical components, capable of solving many problems of linear movement for a telescopic drawer slide where it is desired to move a load out from one side of a fixed support and return to that position. Telescopic guiding technology offers the reliable telescopic linear movement so vital to the successful operation of battery racks, tool shelves, packaging systems, and many other industrial applications.

Industrial strength drawer slides in inch and metric lengths
Radial and axial load handling capability
Unique self-aligning capability compensates for assembly or surface alignment errors
Full extension slides offer strokes slightly beyond the overall closed length

Drawer Slides

Precision Drawer Slides

Compact Precision Drawer Slides

Cam Roller Technology (CRT)

Cam Roller Technology uses PBC Linear precision straight rails and a multitude of different sliders and rails to provide high accuracy and high speed linear guidance in an economical solution. Cam followers or track rollers are rolling element bearings with either an integral stud or an inseparable inner ring for yoke mounting on a pin or shaft. Cam Roller Technology is ideally suited for material handling, point-to-point, door frame guidance and automation applications. We also offer linear motion solutions for high load transfer and compact, low profile applications.

Integral V Technology (IVT)

Integral-V™ Technology (IVT) uses T-slot structural aluminum framing integrated with V-races. IVT provides a complete system build with or without having to incorporate any structural support framework. Hardened steel raceways are directly embedded unto the Integral-V Integrated rail to eliminate fasteners and reduce mounting components. he Integrated rail utilizes PBC Linear's SIMO® machining process for precise mounting and alignment on all critical sides—ensuring dimensional and rail form accuracy.T

Rails available cut-to-length up to 4m (13ft)
SIMO® machined for precision qualified rail surfaces to within .050mm (.002")
Handles loads up to 7230 N (1625 lbs)
High speed capacity 12 m/s (472 in/s)

Custom IVT

Gliding Surface Technology (GST)

Gliding Surface Technology adapts plane bearing design to create a simple, two-piece configuration of a rail and carriage with a self-lubricating surface. By utilizing plane bearing design, Gliding Surface Technology offers lower profiles, compact sizes, and smooth, quiet linear motion.

Plane bearing design will not catastrophically fail
Vibration dampened offering smooth and quiet linear motion
Long life without lubrication

Profile Rail Technology (PRT)

PBC Linear offers a comprehensive range of linear ball guides covering the most popular standard sizes and types used in industry. PBC’s Profile Rail Technology linear guides offer a cost-effective linear guide system without sacrificing quality. Profile rail technology linear ball guides have four (4) rows of ball bearings that each contact the rail at 45º angles from a common rail centerline. This balances the forces in all directions providing high load capacity in a compact space envelope, reduces differential slip, and provides excellent system stability and smoothness.

Sizes ranging from 15mm (0.591 in) rail width to 45mm (1.772 in) rail width
Maximum rail lengths of 4,000 mm (157.5 in)
Maximum carriage bearing block loads up to 163,000 N (36,700 lb).
Optional end seals, side seals, and end scrapers are available
Carriage bearing blocks are available with caged or non-caged bearings.
Optional Raydent, chrome, black oxide, and electroless nickel coatings are available for the rails to enhance corrosion resistance.