Linear bearings generally use a pad, bushing, or roller system to carry a load on a rail that need not be a straight line. The rail can be most any length, although that dimension is limited by the actuator. The durability of the bearing is determined by the load and required speed.

Linear Bearings in Robotics. Robotics is a fairly new industry, yet linear bearings have proven to be quite useful within robotics. You’ll find linear bearings mostly in cartesian robots (also known as gantry robots) which operate on the X, Y, and Z axes. Important bearing features in this industry include.