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

Linear axes with rack and pinion drive

drylin GRQ linear actuator with motor and clamp-mounted guide rail.

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

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

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 test and measuring equipment

For pick & place applications

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

Linear actuator with components marked 1 to 4.

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

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

Find out more about electric motors

Customer application examples

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

Rack axis in a control system with an orange energy cable.

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