CALCULATORS / BEARINGS AND LINEAR GUIDES

Linear-guide block loads calculator

Two rails sharing vertical load and roll moment; no carriage rating model.

bearings-linear-guide.napkin / editable

SCENARIO COMPARISON

Compare the numbers.

This source describes an analytical model. Its quantities and checks are the view.

Scenario	railAN	railBN
	350	150
	300	100

All calculated quantities are listed with the inputs. Switch to Source to inspect the equations.

SCENARIOS / CALCULATED VALUESSAME SOURCE

Change an input to see the consequences.

both rails compressed150.00 N✓ passes

BASELINE INPUTS

load500 Nmoment20 N*mrailSpacing200 mm

CALCULATED

railA350 N

railB150 N

Edits change the baseline source.

THE SOURCE

Edits below update the same model.

# Linear-guide block loads
# Scope: Two rails sharing vertical load and roll moment; no carriage rating model.
# Status: illustrative worked example; engineering review pending.
# Inputs are example values. Checks are editable example requirements, not standards.

load = 500 N
moment = 20 N*m
railSpacing = 200 mm

railA := load/2+moment/railSpacing [N]
railB := load/2-moment/railSpacing [N]

check both rails compressed: railB >= 0 N

scenario alternative: load = 400 N

Calculated from your source · not saved

Baseline · Baseline

both rails compressed150.00 N ✓ passes

alternative · alternative

both rails compressed100.00 N ✓ passes

Illustrative first-order example. Checks are editable requirements, not design standards. The broader topic may require additional equations, data, and validation.

Formula and units

This example uses the following equations. Input names and units match the editable source above.

rail a: railA = load/2+moment/railSpacing [N]
rail b: railB = load/2-moment/railSpacing [N]

Original worked example

These are the baseline values in the downloadable source. Edits above let you test your own values.

Given

load: 500 N
moment: 20 N*m
rail spacing: 200 mm

Calculated

rail a: 350 N
rail b: 150 N

Assumptions and limits

Two rails sharing vertical load and roll moment; no carriage rating model.

The requirement checks use the limits written in this example. Passing a check does not establish that the model covers every load, material behavior, or operating condition in a real design.

Download this .napkin example ↓

Take it further with your agent

Napkin keeps the inputs, equations, checks and assumptions together in one study. Your agent sets it up; you change the numbers.

Try with Claude ↗

codex 'Use Napkin (https://napkin.engineering/mcp, or the local Napkin plugin) to build a study: Linear-guide block loads. Inputs: payload; center of mass; guide/block spacing. Outputs: block loads; moments; screening margins. Model scope: Catalog-dependent load and statistical rating-life models. Read napkin_capabilities and the current snapshot. Ask me for the values that matter, label assumptions with units, author .napkin source, validate it and apply it with napkin_source using the current revision, then open the study. Add checks for the limits I supply. Keep unsupported analyses explicit.'

Claude needs the Napkin connector; Codex needs the Napkin plugin. Set up your agent ↗

The broader study

The topic brief below describes the broader scope. The worked example above states the particular calculation it implements.

Inputs: payload, center of mass, guide/block spacing
Outputs: block loads, moments, screening margins
Modes: calculate, compare, sweep
Drawing: Bearing load diagram

EXECUTABLE WORKED EXAMPLE · FIRST-ORDER MODEL · CHECK THE SCOPE & ASSUMPTIONS