513-2E

Mounting Procedure and Maintenance LM Guide

Mounting the LM Guide

Marking on the Master LM Guide and Combined Use

LM Guide
[Marking on the Master LM Guide]
All LM rails mounted on the same plane are
marked with the same serial number. The LM
rail marked with “KB” after the serial number is
the master LM rail. The LM block on the master
LM rail has its reference surface finished to a Master LM Guide
designated precision, allowing it to serve as the
positioning reference for tables. (See Fig.1)
Normal grade LM Guides are not marked with
“KB.” Therefore, any one of the LM rails hav-
ing the same serial number can be used as the
master LM rail.

Subsidiary LM Guide

Y2F123 KB
Master mark
Serial number
Fig.1 Master and Subsidiary LM Guides (E.g. Model HSR-B)

[Markings on the Reference Surface]

In the LM Guide, the reference surface of the Reference surface
LM block is opposite the surface marked with
the THK logo, and that of the LM rail is on the
surface marked with a line (see Fig.2). If it is THK logo
necessary to reverse the reference surface of
Reference surface
the LM rail and block, or if the grease nipple
must be oriented in the opposite direction, spec- Line marking
ify it.
Master LM Guide

THK logo

Reference surface
Line marking

Subsidiary LM Guide
Fig.2 Markings on the Reference Surface

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[Serial Number Marking and Combined Use of an LM Rail and LM Blocks]

An LM rail and LM block(s) used in combination must have the same serial number. When removing
an LM block from the LM rail and reinstalling the LM block, make sure that they have the same se-
rial number and the numbers are oriented in the same direction. (Fig.3)

Fig.3 Serial Number Marking and Combined Use of an LM Rail and LM Blocks (E.g. Model HSR-A)

[Use of Jointed Rails]

When a long LM rail is ordered, two or more rails will be jointed together to the desired length. When
jointing rails, make sure that the joint match marks shown in Fig.4 are correctly positioned.
When two LM Guides with connected rails are to be arranged in parallel to each other, the two LM
Guides will be manufactured so that the two LM Guides are axisymmetrically aligned.
If a large load is applied near the LM rail joint, the LM rail may deflect and cause misalignment.
Therefore, we recommend securely fastening the joint section by pressing the LM rail against the
datum plane using a set screw or the like and keeping the L dimension as short as possible (Fig.4).
For details, contact THK.
Joint match mark Joint match mark
B1 B2
Joint match mark

Subsidiary-rail axis
Reference surface Reference surface

Master rail axis

Joint match mark
A1 A2
Joint match mark Joint match mark
Joint match mark indication

Subsidiary-rail side
B
Rail datum plane
Ｌ
B Method for Securing
Master rail side the LM Rails at the Joint

LM block set screw

LM rail set screw
Fig.4 Use of Jointed Rails

B1-90
 513-2E

Mounting Procedure and Maintenance

Mounting the LM Guide

Mounting Procedure
[Example of Mounting the LM Guide When an Impact Load is Applied to the Machine and therefore
Rigidity and High Accuracy are Required]
LM block set screw
Table

LM Guide
LM rail set screw
Base
Subsidiary-rail side Master rail side

Fig.5 When an Impact Load is Applied to the Machine

 Mounting the LM Rail(s)

(1) Be sure to remove burr, dent and dust from
the mounting surface of the machine to
which the LM Guide is to be mounted before
installing the LM Guide. (Fig.6)
Note) Since the LM Guide is coated with anti-rust oil,
remove it from the reference surface by wiping the
surface with washing oil before using the guide.
Once the anti-rust oil has been removed, the refer-
ence surface is prone to getting rusted. We recom-
mend applying low-viscosity spindle oil.

(2) Gently place the LM rail onto the base, and

Fig.6 Checking the Mounting Surface
temporarily secure the bolts to the extent that
the LM rail lightly contacts the mounting sur-
face (align the line-marked side of the LM rail
with the side reference-surface of the base).
(Fig.7)
Note) The bolts for securing the LM Guide must be clean.
When placing the bolts into the mounting holes of
the LM rail, check if the bolt holes are displaced.
(Fig.8) Forcibly tightening the bolt into a displaced
hole may deteriorate the accuracy.
Fig.7 Aligning the LM Rail with the Reference-Surface

Fig.8 Checking with the Bolt for an Allowance

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 513-2E

(3) Secure the set screws for the LM rail in

order with a tightening force just enough to
have the rail closely contact the side mount-
ing surface. (Fig.9)

(4) Tighten the mounting bolts at the designated

torque using a torque wrench. (See Fig.10,
and Table1 and Table2 on B1-101.)
Note) To achieve stable accuracy when tightening the LM Fig.9 Tightening the Set screws
rail mounting bolts, tighten them in order from the
center to the rail ends.

(5) Mount the other rail in the same manner to

complete the installation of the LM rails.

(6) Hammer in caps into the bolt holes on the top

face of each LM rail until the top of the cap is
on the same level as the top face of the rail.

Fig.10 Fully Fastening the Mounting Bolts

 Mounting the LM Blocks

(1) Gently place the table on the LM blocks and
temporarily fasten the mounting bolts.

(2) Press the master side LM blocks to the side 1 6 4

reference surface of the table using set screws
and position the table. (See Fig.5 on B1-
91.)

(3) Fully fasten the mounting bolts on the mas-

ter side and the subsidiary side to complete
the installation.
Note) To evenly secure the table, tighten the mounting
bolts in diagonal order as shown in Fig.11.

This method saves time in establishing straight- 3 5 2

ness of the LM rail and eliminates the need to
machine securing dowel pins, thus to drastically
shorten the installation man-hours. Fig.11 Sequence of Tightening the LM Blocks

B1-92
 513-2E

Mounting Procedure and Maintenance

Mounting the LM Guide

[Example of Mounting the LM Guide When the Master LM Rail is not Provided with Set screws]

LM block set screw

Table

LM Guide
Master rail side Base Subsidiary-rail side

Fig.12 When the Master LM Rail is not Provided with Set screws

 Mounting the Master LM Rail

After temporarily fastening the mounting bolts,
firmly press the LM rail to the side reference
surface at the position of each mounting bolt
using a small vice and fully fasten the bolt.
Perform this in order from either rail end to the
other. (Fig.13)

Fig.13

 Mounting the Subsidiary LM Rail

To mount the subsidiary LM rail in parallel with the master LM rail, which has been correctly in-
stalled, we recommend adopting the methods below.

Using a Straight-edge
Place straight-edges between the two rails, and
arrange the straight-edges in parallel with the
side reference surface of the master LM rail
using a dial gauge. Then, secure the mounting
bolts in order while achieving straightness of
the subsidiary rail with the straight edge as the
reference by using the dial gauge. (Fig.14)
Fig.14

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 513-2E

Using Parallelism of the Table

Secure the two LM blocks on the master LM
rail with the table (or a temporary table for mea-
surement), and temporarily fasten the LM rail
and the LM block on the subsidiary LM rail with
the table. Place a dial gauge to the side face
of the LM block on the subsidiary rail from the
dial stand fixed on the table top, then fasten the
bolts in order while achieving parallelism of the
subsidiary LM rail by moving the table from the
rail end. (Fig.15)

Fig.15

Having the Subsidiary LM Rail Follow the Master LM Rail

Place the table on the blocks of the correctly
mounted master LM rail and the temporarily
fastened subsidiary LM rail, and fully fasten the
two LM blocks on the master rail and one of the
two LM blocks on the subsidiary rail with bolts.
Fully tighten the mounting bolts on the subsid-
iary LM rail in order while temporarily fastening
the remaining LM block on the subsidiary LM
rail. (Fig.16)

Fig.16

Using a Jig
Use a jig like the one shown in Fig.17 to achieve
parallelism of the reference surface on the sub-
sidiary side against the side reference surface
of the master side from one end of the rail by
the mounting pitch, and at the same time, fully
fasten the mounting bolts in order. (Fig.17)

（a） （b）

Fig.17

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 513-2E

Mounting Procedure and Maintenance

Mounting the LM Guide

[Example of Mounting the LM Guide When the Master LM Rail Does not Have a Reference Sur-
face]

LM block set screw

Table

LM Guide
Base

Master rail side Subsidiary-rail side

Fig.18

 Mounting the Master LM Rail

Using a Temporary Reference Surface
You can temporarily set a reference surface
near the LM rail mounting position on the base
to achieve straightness of the LM rail from the
rail end. In this method, two LM blocks must be
joined together and attached to a measurement
plate, as shown in Fig.19.

Fig.19

Using a Straight-edge
After temporarily fastening the mounting bolts,
use a dial gauge to check the straightness of
the side reference surface of the LM rail from
the rail end, and at the same time, fully fasten
the mounting bolts.(Fig.20)
To mount the subsidiary LM rail, follow the pro-
cedure described on B1-93.

Fig.20

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 513-2E

[Procedure for Assembling Model HR]

The following procedure is recommended for
assembling model HR.
(1) Remove burr or knots from the LM rail
mounting surface of the base using an oil-
stone. (Fig.21)

(2) Use a small vice to press the two LM rails

to the base so that they closely contact the
reference surface, then tighten the mount-
ing bolts to the recommended torque (see
Fig.21
B1-101). (Fig.22)
a. Check if any of the bolts has a sinking.
b. Use a torque wrench to tighten the bolts
in order from the center to both ends.

(3) Mount the LM blocks on the table, then install

them onto the LM rails. Be sure the mounting
bolts for the LM blocks are temporarily fas-
tened.

(4) Tighten the clearance adjustment bolt alter-

Fig.22
nately to adjust the clearance.
If a relatively large preload is applied in or-
der to achieve high rigidity, control the tight-
ening torque or the rolling resistance.
a. It is preferable to use three clearance
adjustment bolts for each LM block as
shown in Fig.23.
b. To obtain a favorable result of the clearance
adjustment, set the tightening torque of the
two outside screws at approx. 90% of that
of the enter screw.
Fig.23

(5) Secure each LM block by gradually tighten-

ing the two LM block mounting bolts, which
have temporarily been fastened, while slid-
ing the table. (Fig.24)

Torque wrench
Tension gauge

Fig.24

B1-96
 513-2E

Mounting Procedure and Maintenance

Mounting the LM Guide

 Example of Clearance Adjustment

Design the clearance adjustment bolt so that it presses the center of the side face of the LM block.
a. Using an adjustment screw
Normally, an adjustment screw is used to press the LM block.

LM Guide
b. Using tapered gibs
When high accuracy and high rigidity are required, use tapered gibs 1) and 2).

1 2

c. Using an eccentric pin

A type using an eccentric pin to adjust the clearance is also available.

B1-97
 513-2E

[Procedure for Assembling Model GSR]

The procedure for assembling model GSR is as
follows:
(1) Align the table with the reference-surface of
each LM block and fully fasten the mounting Table
bolts to secure the blocks.
Both ends of the table must have a datum
surface. (Fig.25) Reference surface Reference surface
Fig.25
(2) Place LM rail A onto the base and align the
rail with a straight-edge.
Fully fasten the mounting bolts using a torque
Straight-edge
wrench. (Fig.26) LM rail A

(3) Temporarily secure LM rail B onto the base,

then mount the blocks on the rail by sliding
the blocks. Base
Temporarily fasten LM rail B while pressing Fig.26
it toward the LM blocks. (Fig.27)

(4) Slide the table a few strokes to fit the LM

Table
blocks to LM rail B, then fully fasten LM rail
B using a torque wrench. (Fig.28) Press the LM rail
Base
If there are more GSR units to be assembled, LM rail B LM rail A
we recommend producing a jig like the one
shown in Fig.29 first. You can easily mount LM Fig.27
rails while achieving parallelism of the LM rails
using the jig. LM rail B

Torque
wrench

LM rail A
Fig.28

Mounting jig

Base
LM rail

Fig.29

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 513-2E

Mounting Procedure and Maintenance

Mounting the LM Guide

[Procedure for Assembling Model JR]

 Mounting the LM Rails

When two LM rails are to be used in parallel as
shown in Fig.30, first secure one LM rail on the
base, and place a dial gauge on the LM block.
Then, place the pointer of the dial gauge on the

LM Guide
side face and top face of the other LM rail to
simultaneously adjust the parallelism and the
level, thus to complete mounting the LM rails.

Fig.30

 Jointing LM Rails
When two or more LM rails are to be jointed, a
a side b side
special metal fitting as shown in Fig.31 is avail-
Dial gauge
able. For such applications, specify this fitting
when ordering the LM Guide (the rail will be Rail
tapped for attaching a joint fitting). G

Installation Procedure
(1) Temporarily fasten the rail presser bolt. Rail presser Bolt
(2) Secure rail A and the joint fitting with bolts C Rail A Rail B G
and D. a side
(3) Apply a dial gauge to side G of the joint be-
tween rails A and B. Adjust the left and right
level differences using bolt E and set screw b side
F on rail B. Nut
If bolt E is tightened, rail B will move toward Bolt C Bolt D Setscrew F
Rail presser Rail presser
b side. Joint fitting Bolt E
If set screw F is tightened, rail B will move Fig.31
toward a side.
(4) When the adjustment using set screw F is
finished, secure set screw F with the nut.
(5) Adjust and secure the vertical direction us-
ing the rail presser.

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 513-2E

 Welding the LM Rail

When welding the LM rail, it is best to weld the
LM rail while clamping it at the welding point
with a small vice or the like as shown in Fig.32.
For effective welding, we recommend the follow-
ing welding conditions. (During welding the LM
rail, take care to prevent spatter from contacting
the LM rail raceway.)

[Welding conditions]
Preheating temperature:200℃
Postheating temperature:350℃
Note) If the temperature exceeds 750℃, the LM rail may be
hardened again.

[For shielded metal arc welding]

Fig.32
Welding rod: LB-52 (Kobelco)

[For carbon dioxide arc welding]

Wire: YGW12
Electric current: 200A

[Procedure for Assembling Model HCR]

To install the LM rails of R Guide model HCR, we recommend having any form of datum point (such
as a pin) on the reference side (inside) of the LM rail, and pressing the LM rail to the datum point
then stopping the LM rail with a presser plate from the counter-reference surface.

Joint

Fig.33 Method for Securing the LM Rails at the Joint Fig.34 Method for Securing the LM Rail Using a Pin as a Datum
Point

B1-100
 513-2E

Mounting Procedure and Maintenance

Mounting the LM Guide

Methods for Measuring Accuracy after Installation

[When Measuring Running Accuracy for Single Rail Application]
When measuring running accuracy of the LM block, stable accuracy can be obtained by securing
two LM blocks on an inspection plate, as shown in Fig.35. When using a dial gauge, we recommend
placing the straight-edge as close as possible to the LM block in order to perform accurate measure-
ment.

LM Guide
1) Measurement method using an auto-collimator 2) Measurement method using a dial gauge

Fig.35 Methods for Measuring Accuracy after Installation

Recommended Tightening Torque for LM Rails

With high-precision LM rails for the LM Guide, their raceways are ground and accuracy is inspected
with the rails tightened with bolts. When mounting a high-precision LM rail on a machine, we recom-
mend using the corresponding tightening torque indicated in Table1 or Table2
Table1 Tightening Torques when Pan Head Screws are Used Table2 Tightening Torques when Hexagonal-Socket-Head Type Bolts are Used
Unit: N•cm Unit: N•cm

Screw Tightening torque Screw Tightening torque

model No. Not hardened Hardened model No. Steel Cast Iron Aluminum
M2 17.6 21.6 M2 58.8 39.2 29.4
M 2.3 78.4 53.9 39.2
M 2.3 29.4 35.3
M 2.6 118 78.4 58.8
M 2.6 44.1 52.9
M3 196 127 98
M4 412 274 206
M5 882 588 441
M6 1370 921 686
M8 3040 2010 1470
M 10 6760 4510 3330
M 12 11800 7840 5880
M 14 15700 10500 7840
M 16 19600 13100 9800
M 20 38200 25500 19100
M 22 51900 34800 26000
M 24 65700 44100 32800
M 30 130000 87200 65200

B1-101
 513-2E

B1-102