Guide carriage having deformation sensor on track element

A method of operating a guide carriage, comprising:

• measuring, using two deformation sensors a deformation of two self-supporting portions of a track element of a guide carriage, which are assigned to a carriage track, wherein:
• the two self-supporting portions of the track element are located at opposite ends of the track element from each other, as viewed in a direction of a longitudinal axis;
• the guide carriage further includes a main body;
• the two self-supporting portions of the track element are not supported on the main body;
• the guide carriage further includes at least one carriage track positioned on the track element and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis;
• the guide carriage further includes at least one row of endlessly circulating rolling bodies configured to roll in a load-transmitting manner on an associated one of the at least one carriage track;
• and
• the two deformation sensors are each positioned on the guide carriage in a region of a respective one of the two self-supporting portions of the track element, and are connected to an evaluation device;
• determining, with reference to the measured deformation, first individual loads acting on rolling bodies from amongst the at least one row of endless circulating rolling bodies which are critical for the measured deformation;
• determining, with reference to the first individual loads on the critical roller bodies, second individual loads acting on rolling bodies located between the critical rolling bodies;
• and
• determining, with reference to the first individual loads and to the second individual loads, a first total load.