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Sideways
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 These are provided on the machine tool structure for guiding the
movement of slides and carrying the work or the tool on it.
 These are also responsible for maintain alignment of guided
parts at all respective positions.
 Slide-ways may be integral part of structure or added separately
to the structure at its top face. These are provided on vertical or
inclined plane so that the falling chips do not rest over the
sideways.
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Considerations made in designing sideways

 Give exact alignment of guided parts in all position and under

the effect of operational forces and hence should posses large
stiffness.
 Minimum wear and provision for compensation of wear
developed after its use over the time.
 Provision for effective lubrication.
 Ease of assembly and economy in manufacture.
 Possibility of chips getting entrapped should be minimum.
 Freedom from unnecessary restraint.
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Selection of material

 Grey cast iron(c-3 to 3.5 percent) with hardness ranging from 40-50
is common material for the construction of slide-ways. When slide-
ways form an integral part of structure hardness can be increased
by flame hardening. When slideways are added separately on the
structure then the steel strips duly hardened(EC-56-62) using
carburising process is preferred.
 Recently their has been an increasing trend to use plastic strips
backed by cast iron or steel strips. These posses Anti-corrosive and
Anti-scoring properties.
 Sometimes zinc alloys and bronze are also used as sideways
material.
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Types of lubrication

Hydrostatic Anti-frictional
lubrication lubrication
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side-ways

 These types of sideways are finding use in precision machine

tools. These gave provision for the supply of lubricating oil under
pressure between the mating surfaces as to produce an oil film
over the entire contact area.
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Advantages

 High stiffness
 low coefficient of friction
 High dynamic stiffness
 No slip stick, less wear longer life
 Large damping
 Better heat dissipation capabilities and hence less thermal
distortion.
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Anti-friction slide-ways

 These are special type of sideways with low friction coefficient in

these. Friction coefficient in these does not depend upon the
speed off travel. Thus ensures precision movement at uniform
speed.
 These sideways have longer service life.
 These are expensive and the application is normally restricted
for small travels only
 These guide ways employs rolling element in the form of rollers
or balls
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Wear of Guide-ways/Side-ways

 The accuracy of alignment of machine tool elements depends

upon the wear characteristics of guideways. There are 4 factors
that influence the wear of machine tool guide:
1. Mechanical property of fixed and moving elements.
2. Surface characteristics of side-ways.
3. Pressure on the working surface.
4. Protection of guideways against the abrasive action of chips
and dirt.
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The method of preparation of guide way

surface has been found to influence wear as
can be seen from above graph.
 Selection of pressure for
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guideways is an important design
parameter and following guidelines
for cast iron guideways are
normally followed: