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Lightweight cantilever axis

The drylin cantilever axes are specifically designed for positioning and adjustment applications requiring low mass and high operational reliability. They are ideally suited for vertical installations, where reduced moving mass improves dynamic performance.

When configured with a rack-and-pinion drive, the moving mass is further minimized compared to belt-driven deflection systems. This configuration can improve energy efficiency by up to 30% thanks to more direct power transmission. The axes can also be integrated with grippers for pick-and-place and handling tasks.

Key Advantages:

  • High, consistent rigidity independent of stroke length
  • High positioning accuracy
  • Capability for high travel speeds
  • Flexible installation orientation
  • Suitable for long travel distances
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Linear axes with rack and pinion drive

endless gear linear module

drylin® GRQ axis for pick & place

  • 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
More information
Gripper axis with rack drylin® GRQ

drylin GRW- Dynamic z-axis

  • TDirect force transfer via gear rack
  • Compact structure
  • For loads up to 10N
  • Material combination: aluminium profile/plastic gear rack
  • Available with motor
Buy gripper axis drylin GRQ
Cantilever axis with rack drylin® GRW

drylin® GRR-Lightweight z-axis

  • Lightweight Z-axis (1.45kg) strokes up to 500mm
  • Made from aluminium and plastic
  • Ideal for linear robots
  • Dynamic mass of only 0.9kg enables fast operation
  • Larger versions available
Configure your GRR linear unit

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

For multi-axis linear robots

For multi-axis linear robots

For test and measuring equipment

For test and measuring equipment

For pick & place applications

For pick & place applications

Structure of an igus® rack and pinion axis (z-axis)

Rack axis from igus in cross section

1.
Direct force transfer via gear rack

2. 
Torsion-resistant thanks to hollow aluminium shafts drylin® AWMR

3. 
Lubricant- and maintenance-free thanks to drylin linear plain films® R

4. 
Dynamic mass of only 0.9kg enables fast operation

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

Ready to connect toothed belt axes

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

Find out more about electric motors

Customer application examples

drylin GRW rack axes in a sample preparation

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
    • drylin GRQ rack axes in a bottling plant

    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
    • drylin drive technology application examples

    More applications

    Here you will find further successful application examples of our customers with drylin linear axes with lead screw, toothed belt and rack drive.

  • Go to application examples

    • More information

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    Contact details

    Seán Ryan
    Seán Ryan086 0329555Submit form

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