Lubrication-free linear guides in sim racing simulators

Race@Home relies on lubrication-free drylin linear bearings in its sim racing simulators

For its high-quality sim racing platforms, Race@Home was looking for linear guides that were particularly flat and space-saving, and that would work smoothly and durably even during dynamic and abrupt movements of the simulator. drylin W linear guides and carriages are the ideal solution here as they are not only completely free from lubrication and maintenance, but also clearance-free and quiet.

Requirement, challenge and solution

Requirement

Race@Home is a UK-based company that offers high-quality sim racing hardware for beginners and professionals. What's special about Race@Home simulators are the mobile platforms that allow for exceptional immersion: the cockpit tilts, swivels and lets the player experience every jolt in the gameplay.

They needed a compact, reliable linear guide for moving platforms of racing simulators. They also required freedom from lubrication and maintenance, zero clearance and reliability despite fast and abrupt movements

Challenge

The LowSlider platform expands the standard 3DoF motion system with three further dimensions of movement by adding actuators for traction loss at the front and back as well as a central surge actuator. The manufacturer was looking for suitable linear rails and carriages for the linear forward and backward movement of the simulator. In particular, zero clearance had to be guaranteed at all times, even at high speeds and during hours of gaming. In addition, the user should not have to perform any maintenance on the system. Despite continuous operation, the guides must operate reliably, without malfunction and without requiring lubrication.

As the simulators are designed to be as space-saving as possible, it was also necessary to find a particularly flat linear guide that would fit into a confined installation space.

Solution

Today, Race@Home's modern simulation platforms use drylin W linear guides. In addition to their compact design, the systems are characterised by their durability - even when subjected to high loads - and their maintenance-free operation. The iglidur liners installed in the rails are completely self-lubricating and allow for a long-lasting and trouble-free gaming experience. The modular guide systems consist of lightweight aluminium profiles with a width of only 30mm (drylin WS-10-30) or 40mm (drylin WS-10-40). This contributes to a compact design that can also be accommodated in the living or gaming room at home.

The robust linear guides allow the simulator to slide smoothly even during fast and abrupt movements, which makes them perfect for racing or flight simulators. Since the drylin bearing technology moves particularly quietly, players can concentrate completely on the gameplay.

In addition, specially manufactured stoppers are used in the corners of the system, which are made from round bars made of the wear-resistant material iglidur J.

"It's great working with Paul. I think igus products are great, and they help in terms of cost of shipping too. Being lightweight, they knocked 20 kilos off our shipping weight"