The design of ball guides is quite simple, and the mechanism itself consists of several main and a number of auxiliary parts. If the former include metal runners and balls, then the latter are represented by various locking elements and limiters made of both metal and plastic.
To understand the principle of operation of the mechanism, let us turn to the simplest representative of ball guides — two-section non-separable. In this case, there are two so-called rails, differing in size and having a specific U-shape, which allows one part to be placed inside the other.
Between them (usually at the top and bottom) are small balls resembling similar components of a bearing. The role of the locking element, preserving the integrity of the structure, is played by a part of the outer rail, which at a certain point limits the movement of the device.
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Types of ball guides
Depending on the intended use, ball guides can take different shapes and have a unique set of functions. Most often, they are divided according to the following characteristics:
- Nthe possibility of disassembling into collapsible and non-collapsible;
- TOthe number of "steps" into two-section and multi-section;
- TTypes of construction into single-level and multi-level.
As a rule, the final cost of non-disassemblable mechanisms is somewhat lower than their fragmentable counterparts. All thanks to the fact that the latter require special methods of manufacturing rails and methods of fixing balls on them, which would allow the device to be freely disassembled and assembled without fear of losing small parts.
The final price of the guides is also affected by the number of steps provided, as well as the number of levels involved in the system. This happens for a similar reason - due to the significant complication of the mechanism design.
The Role of Ball Guides in Furniture Manufacturing
Despite the fact that the useful properties of telescopic devices have been appreciated in several areas of activity, the majority of such mechanisms are used in the manufacture of various furniture.
A striking example are wardrobes with folding rods for hangers, shoe cabinets and cabinets with drawers - in general, all those items that allow you to either save free space in the room or increase the comfort of living in it.
Ball guides have a positive effect not only on convenience, but also on the efficiency of using furniture. Putting things away and taking them out becomes much easier, and thanks to free access, you can take up all the useful space of the cabinet.
Ball bearing drawer slides
The most common object of using the mechanism is still the drawers, which are equipped with all sorts of cabinets and pedestals. It is not difficult to make the listed household items yourself, and the drawing of the future product only seems complicated.
After all the necessary calculations have been made and the frame itself has been built, you should switch to forming the drawers and securing the pull-out device.
There will also be no problems with installing the latter on furniture created by hand, and before calculating the parameters of the cells, you should select a specific design of ball guides. This should be done because different representatives of the mechanisms have different sizes from others (primarily, different thickness).
Having decided on the type of telescopic devices, you can proceed to calculating the basic parameters of the drawer.
Width, length and height of the drawer
When calculating this characteristic, you cannot blindly repeat the dimensions of the case.
To this it is necessary to add a technological gap, which compensates for measurement errors and ensures free movement of components.
Thus, the width of a drawer is calculated by subtracting from the similar parameter of furniture double the thickness of its outer walls, double the thickness of the mechanism and double the size of the gap.
However, its calculation is much easier - it is enough to reduce the available distance by the size of the next gap.
In this case, it is selected based on the following considerations:
- Dthe back side of the box should not touch the inner wall of the body;
- Dthe length of the pull-out device should not exceed the length of the drawer, or this should be taken into account when calculating the latter (add the required value to the gap size);
- INThe height of a drawer is usually less than its front panel. This allows you not to worry about the functioning of the piece of furniture in case of excessive filling of the compartment.
The technological opening (gap) not only ensures the movement of the boxes, but also eliminates any interaction between them.
In other words, it is necessary to provide such a distance so that the front panels of adjacent sections do not touch each other, because this is the main reason for damage to the furniture front.
If the guides are non-separable, then first you need to attach them to the inner walls of the cabinet or pedestal, and only then directly to the drawers. In the case of a disassemblable mechanism, there are no restrictions on this account, that is, the installation of the corresponding parts can be done in any order.
VIDEO: How to attach ball guides.
VIDEO: Replacing telescopic guides.
Ball bearing drawer slides – 50 photo ideas:
The most useless article that could have been written. Water on water. I was interested in the size of the drawer for the guides, and as an answer I received not numbers and calculations, but something from the series: "the size must be selected with a technical gap". Guys, you either write normally with technical information, or don't write at all.