specifier UPDATE - Accuride

News Bites
Wow!
We Recycle
Did you know that
most Accuride slides are
manufactured with 25 to
35% recycled steel? Our
stainless steel products
contain approximately 60%
recycled material.
Getting Social
For those of you that visit
Facebook, we think you’ll “like”
what you see.
http://bit.ly/accuridearch
If your time is short and
Twitter is more your style,
follow us here:
http://twitter.com/
accuridearch
Automate
Your Updates
Too busy to stop by our site to
see what’s new? Subscribe to our
RSS feed and you’ll get an e-mail
when there are new additions
to our web site. To subscribe, click on the
RSS icon when visiting the Woodworking &
Architectural section of the web site.
One More Way to
Connect
Are you interested in news
from Accuride? Sign up and
you’ll receive our Product
of the Month e-mails
(which have received rave
reviews, BTW) and other
announcements. We promise we won’t clog
up your mailbox with junk. You’ll only hear
from us occasionally.
To sign up, click on the
News from Accuride
icon on the bottom of
the Woodworking &
Architectural landing
page.
File under E for Electronic
If you prefer to read your newsletter on line or want to
refer back to articles down the road, long after this paper
has been recycled, then bookmark http://www.accuride.
com/Woodworking/Architect/Default.asp. You’ll find a link to
download the PDF for this issue there.
Behind the Scenes
Continual improvement
is an unending journey.
Some of the activity that occurs behind the scenes at Accuride is the ongoing
evaluation and improvement of products. Recently, this has resulted in major
enhancements to the 3832 family of slides; and, ultimately these enhancements
will be applied across the entire product line.
The Alchemy of Grease
When asked to describe the new grease used to lubricate our slides, our
engineers say, “Silky”. Starting with a variety of greases from six major lubricant
manufacturers, they formulated and tested several blends. After testing 20 unique
grease formulations, they settled on a magical blend that results in softer and
smoother slide movement.
The Geometry of Ball Retainers
The basic principle behind Accuride’s smooth slide movement is the harnessing
of ball bearings, which are held in place by a device known as a ball retainer. The
ball bearings move in grooves created in the slide members known as raceways.
The ball retainer, positioned between the slide members, is what enables the
combined movement of the slide members.
Ball retainers have an individual compartment for each ball bearing, known as
the seat. Just how the ball bearing sits in the seat is a subject of much study for
Accuride’s engineers.
Using the principles of geometry and tribology metrics, Accuride redesigned the
seat to alter the ball bearing contact points and direction of rotation. This rework
allows the ball bearings to spin more freely, while displacing less grease in the
raceways than the previous retainer design.
Raceway Revisions
Speaking of raceways, we’ve enhanced the overall smoothness of the component
surfaces, which is another factor that improved slide movement. Changes made
to the wet cooling systems used in our roll forming process has reduced the
amount of debris and metal shavings created—ultimately giving us a cleaner
result. Those changes, combined with upgrades to our polishing materials, have
made our raceways akin to the Indy 500 of the slide world.
It doesn’t stop here.
This is just a glimpse into the ongoing process that occurs as Accuride endeavors
to constantly improve and invest in products. The next time you pick up a slide,
take note of the movement, and see if you can feel the difference.
Tribology and Slide Products
Our improvement activity requires us to be true experts in the field of
tribology, which is the study of interacting surfaces with respect to friction,
wear, and lubrication.
Any time two materials come into contact with one another, friction is created.
Since slides are made up of steel members that rely on ball bearings, ball
retainers, and grease for movement, studying ways to decrease friction and
wear amongst these components is a key factor to optimal slide operation.
12311 Shoemaker Avenue
Santa Fe Springs, California 90670
(562) 903-0200 • www.accuride.com