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The article discusses developments which have fostered more-precise machining. Particular focus is given to the evolution from plain bearings to ball and roller-recirculating linear guides. It cites the very good damping characteristics of plain-bearing systems, as well as the relationship of stiffness versus damping in plain and recirculating-type bearing guides. The importance of considering the balance of the overall structural mass with highly preloaded linear bearings is explained.

Features the Spherolinder concentric half-sphere/half-cylinders from G2 Engineering that replace point contacts with line contacts in kinematic mounts. Applications of the connectors; Calculations for a single mounting site; Illustration of a comparison between point and line contacts.

Offers guidelines in preloading bearings. Functions of a design that call for preloaded ball bearings; Method of preloading bearings.

Recommends C-Flex bearings for applications that require limited angles of rotation. Description and properties of these bearings.

Reports on bearing-retaining devices. Functions of these devices; Properties of these devices; Applications.

Describes linear ball bearings and crossed-roller slides. How travel length is determined; Limitations of this design; Other features.