METHODS OF ADJUSTING

CLEARANCE IN GUIDEWAYS
PRESENTED BY: VIVEK J. BURE
NIHAL M. DURUGKAR
Need For Adjusting Clearance

 The life and smooth functioning of slideways

depends significantly upon the clearance
between sliding surfaces.

 The clearance is considered optimum if it is not

too small to give rise to excessive frictional force
,nor too large to adversely affect the uniformity
of travel
Need For Adjusting Clearance

 It is extremely difficult to obtain optimum

clearance even with best of manufacturing
technology.
 Moreover , the initial clearance alters in the
course of slideway operation due to wear.
 Therefore , necessary to provide devices for
periodic adjustment of clearances in the
slideways.
Commonly Used Methods

Flat strips that are not clamped after adjustment of

clearances

Flat strips that are clamped after the clearance

adjustment

Taper Gibs
Flat Strips

 The strips are placed

against the mating
surfaces by means of
tightening screws.
 The uniformity of the
pressing force depends
upon the degree of
tightening of each
screw.
Flat Strips

 The device has low rigidity and

coupled with lack of uniformity of
pressing force prevents its
application in heavily loaded
and high accuracy machine
tools.
 The stiffness of slideways using flat
strips may be improved by
clamping the strips after the
clearance have been adjusted.
THANK YOU!