38 n SCIENTIFIC, MEDICAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL May 2026 www.drivesncontrols.com Linear motion engineering is redefining laboratory automation practices Automation technologies have become fundamental to modern scientific, medical and pharmaceutical laboratories. Today’s analytical systems must handle extremely small liquid volumes with exceptional speed, accuracy and repeatability, while operating in environments where contamination or inconsistent movement cannot be tolerated. As these demands accelerate, the motion systems inside laboratory equipment are undergoing a significant shift. Linear motion components that were once considered standard are being replaced, re-imagined or redesigned completely to meet the unique challenges of high throughput automated pipetting and diagnostics. At the heart of this shift is a transformation in how engineers approach tribology and motion control. Traditional ball bearing systems, long regarded as the default choice for smooth, precise travel, are proving increasingly mismatched to the stringent requirements of laboratory automation. In their place, lightweight, lubrication-free linear motion systems are becoming essential. Automated pipetting platforms vary from simple one-arm modules to complex multiarm, multi-channel systems capable of aspirating and dispensing across dozens of vessels simultaneously. Some systems also include additional functions such as cap piercing, needle cleaning or temperature control. With each added capability, the mechanical complexity increases. Movements become faster, stroke lengths longer, and off-centre moments rise as multiple channels are driven from compact central structures. These high-duty motion profiles are placing intense demands on guide systems. The repetition rates are extreme – often hundreds or thousands of cycles per hour – and even slight inaccuracies can affect sample integrity. At the same time, laboratory instruments are continuing to shrink in size. Bench space is now at such a premium that designers are expected to deliver full-scale automation in compact housings, often leaving little room for traditional linear architectures. Rolling-element limitations Ball-bearing guides provide low friction and good tolerance for misalignment, but they introduce challenges in hygienic or contamination-sensitive sectors. Their need for lubrication poses a fundamental risk: even minute traces of oil or grease can contaminate reagents or interfere with sensitive chemical and biological processes. Washdowns compound the issue. Cleaning agents may remove protective lubrication, accelerating wear through pitting or corrosion. Hardened metal components also add bulk and weight – two characteristics that are at odds with the trend towards miniaturisation. For increasingly compact devices, every additional millimetre of rail height or carriage mass is a disadvantage. As motion demands rise and installation space reduces, engineers are recognising that rolling-element systems are not always the best fit for laboratory environments. In this context, polymer-based plain bearings have emerged as a compelling alternative. These bearings run dry, eliminating the risk of lubricant contamination. This alone makes them attractive for laboratory and medical applications, where sterility and sample integrity are paramount. But their advantages extend much further than that. Polymers are inherently lightweight, reducing inertia and enabling smaller motors to deliver the same acceleration and throughput. Their thinwalled structures lend themselves to compact system layouts, allowing designers to fit more functions into smaller spaces. Crucially, polymer bearings are resistant to Laboratory automation practices are being revolutionised by the emergence of new technologies that offer advantages over traditional motion technologies such as ball bearings. Matthew Aldridge, managing director of igus UK, explains. M2-Automation is using a lubrication- and maintenance-free drylin linear robot from igus in this customised filling system. This gantry consists of several toothed belt axes for light adjustment and positioning tasks.
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