Linear motion device

Abstract

Provided is a linear motion device having higher rigidity, higher load resistance, and superior guiding precision. In this linear motion device, a linearly moving elementthat moves linearly relative to a rail elementis provided, load pathsthrough which rolling elementsmove are provided between the rail elementand the linearly moving element, and endless rolling element circulation paths are formed in which the load pathsare made to communicate via return pathswith no-load paths, wherein the rolling elementsare cylinders of which the length is at least three times the diameter, the rolling elementsare configured so as to circulate through the endless rolling element circulation paths while being rotatably held by rolling element holdersconfigured by spacersprovided between adjacent rolling elementsand belt-shaped linking elementsthat link spacerstogether at both ends, the no-load pathsare formed by placing no-load path-constituting membersin linear holesformed in the linearly moving element, and the no-load path-constituting membersare configured such that the end surfaces of the rolling elementsare opened on the outward sides and the linking elementsof the rolling element holdersare exposed.