Design and development of an advanced linear reciprocating tribometer

With advances in machining technology, the requirements for linear guide ways and industrial lubricants are increasing, especially for machine tools which have to meet various demands such as high positioning exactness, low stick-slip coefficient of friction over a wide range of speed. Study of friction and wear of lubricated surfaces plays a prominent role in the development of sliding surfaces for machine tools. The design and development of an advanced linear reciprocating tribometer to study the performance of lubricants and slide way surfaces is presented in this paper. The principle of operation consists of sliding test samples against a stationary counter surface under load and recording the parameters of interest. The novel features include evaluating the stick-slip behaviour and dynamic coefficient of friction over a wide speed range from 0.1 to 6000 mm/min under load. An attempt is made to study the efficiency of different oil groove shapes and geometries with reference to oil flow pattern. Based on these studies, the best oil groove shapes and geometries can be obtained to reduce the friction and wear of lubricated sliding surfaces in machine tool slide ways. Preliminary test results of the frictional behaviour of such lubricated surfaces are presented in this paper.