Analysis Of The Linear Motion Guide Series Of INA

INA (part of the Schaeffler Group) has a long history of more than 50 years in the field of linear rail blocks and offers a technologically advanced and comprehensive linear product range, with products manufactured in Germany and France. They emphasize modular concepts to achieve cost-effective, application-specific solutions and position themselves as a development partner for their customers.

KUVE Series (Four-row Linear Recirculating Ball Bearing and Guideway Assemblies)

• Key design features
  • Four-row full complement ball system. Designed for high load capacity and rigidity, high running and smoothness accuracy, and low friction. Suitable for long and unlimited stroke lengths.
  • Speeds up to 300 m/min (or up to 6 m/s) and accelerations up to 150 m/s².
  • Operating temperature range -10°C to +80°C. Size range 15 to 55. Models include “Silent” with square washers and high-speed design (up to 10 m/s in standard steel).
  • Virtually maintenance-free due to integrated grease grooves near the raceway.
• Main recommended applications
  • General applications involving long strokes, high loads, high rigidity, and low friction.
  • The “Robust Classic” variant is suitable for general high-rigidity and high-precision use cases.
  • The “Silent” variant is ideal for low-noise and high-dynamics applications.
  • The “High-speed Design” variant is intended for very high-speed use cases

The KUVE series is the most versatile and extensive linear rail block guidance system in INA’s product range. It uses a full complement of balls and is suitable for applications with long strokes, high loads, high rigidity, and low friction. The series is available in several variants, including the “Robust Classic” for high rigidity and precision, the “Quiet” variant for low noise and high dynamics, and the “High Speed” variant for very high speeds.

KUSE Series (Six-Row Linear Recirculating Ball Bearing and Guideway Assemblies)

• Key Design Features :
  • Six-row full complement ball system, offering the highest load capacity and rigidity among INA’s ball-based linear rail guides. Four rows of balls support compressive loads, two rows resist tensile forces, and three rows handle lateral forces. Optimized rolling element lead-in geometry ensures smooth running performance. Designed for high-speed applications with speeds up to 300 m/min and accelerations up to 150 m/s². Operating temperature range from -10°C to +80°C.
  • The KUSE-XL variant provides enhanced performance, including higher load ratings (up to 44% more), smoother operation, and improved precision. Available in standard, long, tall, and tall-long versions (KUSE-XL).
• Main Recommended Applications :
  • Applications involving long travel distances, high to very high loads, and high to ultra-high rigidity requirements. The KUSE-XL is especially suitable for measuring machines and equipment where improved surface quality and machine availability are essential.

Technical Advantages :
The KUSE series adopts a six-row full-complement ball design and represents the model with the highest load capacity and rigidity within INA’s ball-type linear rail guide systems. As its high-performance variant, the KUSE-XL achieves up to 44% higher load ratings and extremely smooth motion through an optimized ball entry zone and six-row force transmission path (four rows for compression, two rows for tension, and three rows for lateral forces). This makes it particularly suitable for precision measuring equipment.

RUE Series (Full Complement Roller Type Linear Rail Block)

• Key Design Features :
  • Full complement roller system (maximum number of rollers) with cylindrical rollers as rolling elements. Highest load capacity and rigidity among INA monorail linear rail systems. Speeds up to 180 m/min and accelerations up to 100 m/s². Operating temperature range from -10°C to +80°C.
  • Improved design of the RUE..-E model features a 40% reduction in friction and 30% lower lubricant requirement. Size range 25 to 100. Very low stroke pulsation.
• Main Recommended Applications :
  • Applications involving long or unlimited strokes, high to ultra-high loads, and high to ultra-high rigidity. Particularly suitable for applications requiring extremely high load capacity and precision, such as heavy-duty machine tools.

The RUE series , using cylindrical rollers as rolling elements, is the most load-capable and rigid model among INA’s monorail linear rail block systems. Its RUE..-E variant significantly reduces friction and lubricant consumption through optimized roller circulation and lubrication system design. This series is ideal for applications requiring extreme load capacity, high rigidity, and high precision.

RUS Series (Linear Recirculating Roller Guide System with Guide Rails)

• Key Design Features :
  • Consists of linear roller bearings (RUS, PR) and HYDREL guide rails. Designed for high precision, high load capacity and high rigidity with low and consistent friction. The rollers are guided between the ribs of the support element to prevent skewing. Plastic spacer elements are positioned between the rollers. The RUSK version includes an integral adjusting wedge for height adjustment/preload setting, offering advantages such as low cross-sectional height and simplified installation.
• Main Recommended Applications :
  • General mechanical engineering, especially linear guidance systems in machine tools requiring high guiding/positioning accuracy over long travel distances. The RUSK version with integrated wedge is particularly beneficial in machine tool design due to its reduced part count and enhanced vertical rigidity.

The RUS series is a system composed of linear roller bearings (such as RUS, PR) and dedicated guide rails (such as HYDREL), typically used together with adjustable wedges (VUS, VUSZ) for accurate height adjustment and preload setting. The RUSK variant integrates the linear rail block and wedge into one unit, simplifying assembly. Thanks to its parallel self-adjusting characteristics, it can fully utilize its load-bearing capability and rigidity, making it especially suitable for use in machine tools.

INA Miniature Guide Systems

• Key Design Features :
  • Four-row miniature linear recirculating ball bearing and guideway assemblies (sizes 12, 15) or double-row configurations for precision motion in small spaces (sizes 5–15).
  • Miniature linear rail blocks with cylindrical rollers for limited travel (sizes 7–15), offering extremely smooth running performance.
  • Optional guided roller design with cage system. Robust flat cage guidance system with various cages (roller/ball/needle) for high load capacity and rigidity in short-stroke applications.
• Main Recommended Applications :
  • Cleanroom environments, semiconductor manufacturing, and medical technology applications requiring fast positioning and high repeatability. Also suitable for applications demanding precise motion in extremely compact spaces.

INA’s miniature guide systems include four-row or double-row miniature linear recirculating ball bearing and guideway assemblies, as well as miniature linear rail blocks with cylindrical rollers, designed for precision applications in confined spaces, such as cleanrooms, semiconductor production, and medical equipment.

Conclusion

INA’s product portfolio, especially the KUSE (six-row ball) and RUE (roller) series, strongly highlights its advantages in achieving the highest load capacity and rigidity, enabling it to cope with the most demanding use environments such as various large machine tools. At the same time, INA also emphasizes its “modular concept”, which allows users to combine various linear rail block geometries, seals, lubrication systems, and measurement units — demonstrating a flexible approach to meet specific customer needs.

The X-life design of the KUSE-XL series and performance enhancements in the RUE..-E variant demonstrate INA’s commitment to continuous product development and improvement within existing product lines. It can be seen that INA is a trustworthy brand for linear rail blocks, offering high reliability and engineering expertise in linear motion solutions.