Rolling guide device and manufacturing method thereof, and driving device including the rolling guide device

A manufacturing method of a rolling guide device comprising the steps of:

• forming a rolling member rolling surface on a rail along the longitudinal direction, said rail having upper and lower surfaces which are substantially parallel planes and sides which protrude from said substantially parallel planes in a continuous arc shape,
• forming a rolling member circulation passage including a loaded rolling member rolling surface corresponding to said rolling member rolling surface of said rail on a block in which an opening is machined;
• inserting the rail into the opening of the block, and disposing and housing, in the rolling member circulation passage, a plurality of rolling members which circulate in accordance with the relative motion of the rail and block;
• and
• providing a sectional shape at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the rail and a sectional shape of the opening of the block machined in advance into a mutually geometrically conforming longitudinal shape with a uniform clearance between the rail and the block in the opening, except between the rolling member rolling surface and the corresponding loaded rolling member rolling surface, and
• wherein a contact angle of the rolling members to the block and rail is capable of being changed by machining positions of both the loaded rolling member rolling surface of the block and the rolling member rolling surface of the rail at any position on the sectional shapes.

A driving device including a rolling guide device comprising:

• a rail having upper and lower surfaces which are substantially parallel planes, sides which protrude from said substantially parallel planes in a continuous arc shape, and a rolling member rolling surface formed along a longitudinal direction of said rail;
• a block having an opening in which the rail is fitted and a rolling member circulation passage including a loaded rolling member rolling surface corresponding to the rolling member rolling surface of the rail;
• a plurality of rolling members disposed and housed in the rolling member circulation passage and circulating in accordance with the relative motion of the rail and block, wherein a sectional shape at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the rail and a sectional shape of the opening of the block are formed into a mutually geometrically conforming longitudinal shape, with a uniform clearance between the rail and the block in the opening except between the rolling member rolling surface and the corresponding loaded rolling member rolling surface;
• and
• a linear motor comprising at least one magnet formed in said rail, and a plurality of electromagnetic stators formed in said block.