TECHNICAL DEFINITIONS – SLIDES

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

ACTRAK®
Industry standard linear motion slide.

AMI
ACTRON Manufacturing, Inc. Industry leader in aerospace aluminum drawer slides applications.

B [TOP]

Ball-bearing slide
The basis of the ACTRON telescopic and linear motion technology, a combination of aluminum extruded profiles with precision balls that roll within or without retainers.

Bearing Types
Full Ball- Free flowing linear motion balls.
Roller Ball Bearing- Roller axel rotating on captive balls.
Solid Roller Bearing- Roller axel rotating on a solid bearing.
Solid Center Track- Solid linear bearing (friction).
Stainless Steel Raceways- Option available on some slides to increase slide load, lifecycle and to meet shock and vibration requirements.

Brackets (Mounting)
Used for mounting in *EIA- Retma racks (ordered attached to slide). *Electronic Installation Alliance
Types of brackets include: Rear Bracket, Front Bracket.

C [TOP]

Cable Carrier
Integrated – Slide mounted. Manufactured along with slide assembly (chassis length, width, & travel dimensions are required)
Separate – Rack mounted. Ability to add to any installed slide assembly.

Carrier-plate travel
Maximum distance which the carrier plate of a non-extension linear slide covers between the two end positions of the outer slide profile.

Cycle
The unit derived from one opening and one closing movement of a telescopic slide or linear slide. All ACTRON slides are qualification tested with their load capacity to a minimum of 100,000 cycles. (see Life cycle)

D [TOP]

Deflection
Acceptable level difference between a loaded and unloaded slide in its extended position, measured at the front end of the slide with an evenly distributed load.

Detent
Device that holds one section of a slide in a given position until an extending or closing force sufficient to overcome or release the detent is applied. In contrast to positive locking.

Dynamic load capacity (weight capacity)
Maximum load of a vertically mounted pair of slides when extended, using all available mounting positions. The stated load values relate to a minimum 100,000 cycles. A significantly higher load rate is possible with a lower number of cycles. A horizontal installation would considerably reduce the load rate, by up to 75%.

ACTRON telescopic slides have a unique "in-line" multiball-track geometry. They are therefore particularly rigid against distortion. This increases durability and dynamic load capacity significantly.

E [TOP]

Extension
Distance that a partial or full extension slide covers from the closed to the extended position. Synonymous with travel.
  Full - Extension equal to 100% of slide length.
  Partial – Extension of between approximately 75% - 100% of slide length. Increases the standard load carrying capacity of the slide.
  Over - Extension over 100% of slide length. Decreases the standard load carrying capacity of the slide.

Extractor
A spring-loaded return device used to pull deeply stowed items to a forward position.

F [TOP]

Finishes, Protective
Provide corrosion and/or wear protection to metal surfaces.
  Aluminum – Anodized: Acts as a protective coating to retard the natural oxidation tendency of aluminum. Available in many colors but clear and black are most common on slides. Hard anodize provides additional wear protection with colors varying between light gray/green to black. Note: Anodize can appear slightly different on different alloys of aluminum.
  Stainless Steel – Passivated: Process that changes the normally chemically active surface of the metal to a much less reactive condition. Also removes surface impurities.
  Steel Parts - Cadmium Plated: Types available in golden or silvery colors.

L [TOP]

Lateral stability
Dimension for lateral (side to side) deflection of an extended telescopic slide.

Life cycle
Number of movements during the service life of a telescopic slide or linear slide. One opening and one closing movement corresponds to one cycle.

Linear Guide
See Non-Extension Slide

Load rating
Synonym for dynamic load capacity (weight capacity).

Lock types
  Lock-out – Slide locked in the fully extended position.
  Lock-in – Slide locked in the fully closed or retracted position.
  Front Panel Release - Exposed device (knob, lever) used to release a slide from the lock-out and/or lock-in position.
  Captive Screw - Manual release from the lock-in position.
  Intermediate Lock – Any locking point not occurring at the fully extended or retracted slide position.

M [TOP]

Materials
Slides are generally manufactured using high strength aluminum alloys with components or features being either stainless steel or aluminum.

N [TOP]

Non-Extension Slide
Linear motion track operating back and forth within a stationary channel. Used for light load or positioning applications.

Nut Bar
Plate used to fasten slide mounting brackets or cable carriers to *EIA-Retma racks. *Electronic Installation Alliance.

P [TOP]

Positive locking
Mechanical locking of an extended or closed telescopic slide. The lock can be released by actuating the locking mechanism, either by hand or mechanically.

Positive stop
Synonym for stop.

Q [TOP]

Quick Disconnect
Special function which enables one slide profile to be detached, or released from the remaining component by depressing a release trigger.

S [TOP]

Safety Factor
Typically a 25% allowable safety factor on given slide loads.

Sequencing Device
Slide component that controls the extension sequence of individual track members during slide operation.

Slide
Synonym for ball-bearing slide, telescopic slide, linear slide, rail, glide.
Slides typically have three channels but are available with up to four channels depending on the slide series selected.
  Cabinet Track - Outer most member mounted to cabinet. Also called Outer Track.
  Middle Track – Central member carrying most of the load. Also called Intermediate Track.
  Drawer Track - Innermost member mounted to chassis on three section slides that can also be disconnected. Also referred to as Chassis Section. Supporting member to Drawer Mount Track on four section slides.
  Drawer Mount Track - Innermost member mounted to chassis on four section slides. Used in conjunction with Drawer Track as a disconnect member.

Slide Travel
Synonym for Extension.

Slide Types/Options
    Quick Disconnect – Mechanism to easily remove the chassis from the cabinet or rack.
    Quick Disconnect with Pivoting – Mechanism that provides easy access to the rear of the chassis either by removing or Pivoting + 90° after full extension.
  Full Ball - All ball raceways.
  Shock Block – Block device added to slide assemblies to increase their shock & vibration capacities in the closed or retracted position.
  Shock Pin – Mating pins used in conjunction with Shock Blocks.
  Shock Block, Adjustable - Inter-Locking SST Receptacle Nut used to support Chassis Section in the closed position.
  Mounting Shelf - Extruded angle used to “Bottom Mount” Chassis.
  Mounting Flanges - Mounting area used when conventional Outer Channel mounting holes are not accessible.

Stop
Any component mounted to the individual slide members that restricts travel between members and prevents them from separating from each other. Stops are typically pins.

T [TOP]

Telescopic slide
Synonym for slide, ball-bearing slide. Generic term for partial and full extension slides.

Travel
See Extension or Slide Travel