THK SPS Series Super-Low Waving Caged Ball LM Guide
The THK SPS Series is a caged ball LM Guide with eight raceway grooves and small-diameter balls. Doubling the number of grooves halves the load on each ball, giving the SPS Series super-low waving performance down to a nanoscopic scale, comparable to hydrostatic guides. This series also uses ultra-long blocks, which pack in more balls and reduce each ball’s individual load. This helps push rigidity even higher, surpassing what a roller guide can typically offer.
Each row of balls sits at a 45° contact angle, giving the SPS Series a four-way equal load structure that bears load from all directions. This means it can be mounted in various positions, including horizontally or upside down, making it a strong fit for machines that need both nanometer-level precision and long-term, maintenance-free reliability.
There’s one model variant, SPS-LR, with an ultra long block and bolts mounted from above. Sizes range from 15 to 45, with basic dynamic load ratings from 15.9 kN to 126 kN and basic static load ratings from 41.2 kN to 307 kN.
