How to Build a Multi-Axis System with W-ROBOT Linear Modules in 5 Practical Steps

1. Start with Motion, Not with Catalog Pages

Before you pick a single model, write one clear sentence for your system:

“Move a ___ kg payload within ___ × ___ mm in X/Y and ___ mm in Z, in ___ seconds per cycle, with ±___ mm repeatability, in a ___ environment.”

Example:

“Move a 5 kg gripper over 600 × 400 mm in X/Y and 150 mm in Z, in 1.2 s per cycle, with ±0.05 mm repeatability, in a dusty machining cell.”

That single sentence already tells you:

• Overall envelope of your XYZ linear module platform
• Required stroke, speed and acceleration
• Precision level and environment (cleanroom vs oily shop floor)

Only when this is written down does “which 威洛博 W-ROBOT linear module should I pick?” become a meaningful question.

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2. Step One: Choose the Base Axis for Your Platform

Think of the base axis as the “floor” of your multi-axis system. Everything else bolts to it.

2.1 Decide the dominant direction and stroke

Ask:

• Is your main motion horizontal (X) or along the conveyor?
• How long is the maximum required stroke?
• Will the base be fixed on a frame, or bridging over a working area?

For shorter strokes (say up to ~800 mm) where accuracy matters, a screw-driven W-ROBOT linear module is usually the best base. For long transfer strokes (1–3 m) where throughput is more important than microns, a belt-driven module is a better starting point.

2.2 Screw vs belt as the foundation

Very simplified:

• Ball-screw base
  • Higher stiffness and repeatability
  • Great for precision assembly, vision inspection, fine positioning
• Timing-belt base
  • Longer stroke, higher speed, lighter moving mass
  • Ideal for shuttling parts between stations, pallet handling, wide gantries

You can still build a multi axis linear actuator on either; what changes is the character of the whole system: “precision platform that can move fast” vs “fast platform with decent precision”.

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3. Step Two: Add the Second and Third Axis the Right Way

Now you have one W-ROBOT linear module as a base. The temptation is to grab two more and stack them in the CAD. Resist that urge for a moment and think structure.

3.1 Building an XY gantry

For many applications—panel handling, large PCB inspection, PV glass movement—your first goal is a two-axis gantry:

• Base X axis: one or two parallel W-ROBOT linear modules
• Cross-beam Y axis: shorter stroke axis mounted on top, carrying the tool or Z stage

Key details:

• If the payload is high or spans a wide frame, use two synchronized X axes under the beam, not one central rail. This increases torsional stiffness dramatically.
• Make sure both base modules use the same type of linear guide rail and profile so they share loads evenly.
• Use coupling shafts or electronic gearing in the controller to keep the two X carriages aligned.

Done right, this XY setup becomes a rigid base for an eventual Z axis and turns into a true XYZ linear module platform.

3.2 Adding Z without breaking everything

The Z axis is where many DIY multi-axis builds go wrong. Common mistakes:

• Oversized Z module making the moving mass too large
• Undersized Z module flexing under gripper or spindle load
• Forgetting about brakes or counterbalance for vertical motion

Guidelines:

• Pick a compact, screw-driven W-ROBOT linear module or electric cylinder for Z. You want stiffness and gravity holding, not raw speed.
• Check allowable moments: the Z axis will carry a gripper, spindle, or camera with some offset. Make sure the catalog’s Mx/My/Mz ratings cover your worst-case lever arm.
• If the payload is significant, choose a motor with a holding brake or add a mechanical counterbalance to avoid crashes during power loss.

At this point, you have a coherent multi axis linear actuator rather than three unrelated axes bolted together.

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4. Step Three: Stiffness, Alignment and Mounting Matter More Than You Think

You can pick the right models and still end up with a shaky machine if you mount them poorly.

4.1 Treat the frame as part of the axis

A W-ROBOT linear module is only as stiff as what you bolt it to.

• Use machined mounting surfaces or precision extrusions where rails sit.
• Avoid shims and random brackets unless you have a clear alignment strategy.
• For gantries, use a proper cross-beam with known deflection under load, not just “some convenient profile”.

If you’re building over a long span, ask your supplier for deflection data and recommended support spacing. That single conversation saves many hours of “why does it vibrate at 1.5 m/s?”.

4.2 Align the rails before you power up

Misalignment between two parallel axes will:

• Increase running friction
• Cause binding at high speed
• Shorten linear guide rail and screw life

Basic best practices:

• Use loose alignment (dowel pins, jigs, laser tools) to position rails before tightening.
• Move the carriages through full stroke by hand while tightening screws in stages.
• Only then install motors and commission drives.

It sounds boring. It’s also the difference between a smooth XYZ linear module platform and one that eats bearings for breakfast.

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5. Step Four: Don’t Forget Cables, Hoses and Safety

As soon as you have three axes, cable management stops being a detail.

5.1 Plan cable carriers from day one

In the 3D model, reserve:

• Space for cable chains on each moving axis
• Bend radii that respect motor, encoder, and sensor cable limits
• Paths for pneumatics or vacuum lines to grippers or tools

A neat mechanical layout can still fail if the cable chain collides at the corner of your multi axis linear actuator or if a hose drags across the work area.

5.2 Think safety and maintenance access

Ask yourself:

• Can an operator reach common wear parts without dismantling half the gantry?
• Are there obvious pinch points where a hand or sleeve might get caught?
• Do you need covers or light curtains for larger systems?

Multi-axis systems are productive, but they also amplify risk if not guarded properly.

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6. Step Five: Controls – Make It Feel Like One Machine, Not Three Axes

Mechanically, you now have a solid stack of W-ROBOT linear modules. To get value out of it, the control system must treat them as one organism.

6.1 Choose how you coordinate axes

Options:

• Central motion controller with all axes on the same bus
• Smart drives with internal interpolation for small systems
• PLC + motion card if you’re in a more classic industrial stack

For typical XYZ work—vision inspection, pick-and-place, simple machining—a compact motion controller that can run synchronized multi-axis moves is often the sweet spot.

6.2 Use standard kinematics and naming

Don’t get clever:

• Call axes X, Y, Z consistently in software and documentation.
• Define a clear machine coordinate system and home positions.
• If you build multiple machines, standardize conventions so service and software teams don’t have to relearn them.

The goal is for your XYZ linear module platform to feel like a single, coherent product to everyone who touches it: engineers, operators, and service.

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7. When to Ask 威洛博 W-ROBOT for Help Instead of Doing It All Yourself

You don’t have to design every bracket and beam from scratch. On wlbrobot.com you’ll find:

• Model data and CAD for different W-ROBOT linear module families
• Examples of XY and XYZ combinations used in gantries and platforms
• Technical support that has seen most of the mistakes above already

If you know your motion envelope and payload, it’s often faster to let their engineers propose a baseline multi-axis configuration and then adapt it, rather than starting from a blank screen.