Telescopic slides are linear motion devices that are capable of compaction and extension as a result of concentric parts that slide inside of each other. Similar in function and design to drawer slides, telescopic slides are more suited for industrial manufacturing applications due to physical characteristics such as increased shock and vibration resistance, smooth movement and increased tensile strength.
Industries that utilize telescopic slides include fire and rescue industries, for equipment and tool mounting applications; commercial and residential, for domestic appliance applications; electronics, for racking and storage applications; and automotive and aerospace, for vehicle construction and navigation. Telescopic slides may also be used in furniture, marine, architectural, construction and mining industries for numerous applications including material handling. As heavy-duty linear slides, telescopic slides are often constructed to withstand extreme environments from such corrosion-resistant materials as steel and stainless steel. In order to provide high durability and strength, telescopic slides are most often constructed from cold-drawn steel or steel that has undergone a different hardening process. Additional services such as epoxy coating can also be used to increase the corrosion-resistance of the telescopic slide.
Telescopic slides have a very basic design. They consist of two main components: a stationary linear base, also referred to as a track rail, and a moving carriage. The track rail has grooves that allow the moving carriage to have space to travel. These grooves are also known as raceways, and the size of these raceways affect the load-carrying capacity of the telescopic slide. The moving carriage may have mobility provided as a result of either ball bearings or roller bearings; although, ball bearings are more commonly used. Used to reduce the amount of friction between an object, ball bearings allow for heavier objects to be moved more easily and are typically made out of either steel or ceramic. Roller bearings work in the same capacity, but are cylindrically shaped instead of spherically. Inside the moving carriage is typically a ball screw (or lead screw) and nut that provides the linear movement. To provide motion, a nut is threaded onto the non-rotating part of the screw; thus, the nut is prevented from rotating. Instead, the nut is driven along the threads of the screw in the corresponding direction to the screw's rotational movement. As a result, it is through the nut that linear movement is achieved. Ball screws and lead screws work in the same capacity; however, ball screws typically are better able to provide reduced friction.
