OND has published a product selection checklist to help customers prepare the technical information needed when requesting transmission or linear motion components. The checklist appears within the Industry Applications page and focuses on the factors that most often affect product suitability.

Six Core Data Points

The checklist asks customers to provide six basic groups of information: working and peak load, normal and maximum speed, required positioning accuracy, travel or transmission distance, environmental conditions and available installation space.

These values do not replace a full design calculation, but they provide a practical basis for identifying product families and detecting obvious conflicts early in the inquiry process.

• Load: working load, peak load and possible shock load
• Speed: normal operating speed, maximum speed and acceleration
• Accuracy: positioning tolerance, repeatability and backlash expectations
• Travel: stroke length, rack length or center distance
• Environment: dust, moisture, temperature, cleaning agents and corrosion risk
• Installation: available envelope, mounting orientation and connection method

Why the Checklist Matters

A product selected only by outside dimensions may fit physically but still fail to meet load, life or accuracy requirements. Conversely, an oversized component can increase cost, inertia and installation difficulty without improving machine performance.

The checklist encourages customers to describe the complete operating condition. This helps distinguish between standard catalog products, products requiring additional machining and parts that must be manufactured from a customer drawing.

Drawings and Existing Samples Are Also Useful

For replacement projects, an existing model number, clear photos and key dimensions can be useful. For new machines, assembly drawings and interface dimensions are especially important.

When a physical sample is available, the customer should still provide application information. A sample shows geometry and material appearance, but it may not reveal the original heat treatment, accuracy grade or intended service conditions.

Designed for Faster Technical Review

The checklist is intended to reduce repeated email exchanges and make the first technical review more efficient. It can be used for gear racks, timing drives, chain drives, linear guides, ball screws and custom machined parts.

Using the Checklist

Customers can copy the checklist into an inquiry email or include the values directly on a drawing. Where a value is unknown, it should be marked as unknown rather than estimated without a basis.

Examples of Useful Supporting Documents

For a replacement component, a photo of the complete assembly is often more useful than a close-up image alone because it shows mounting orientation and nearby interfaces. A dimensioned sketch can identify center distances, hole positions, shaft diameter and available space. For a new machine, a simple layout drawing can show the relationship between the motor, gearbox, guides and driven element.

Where calculations have already been completed, customers can provide required torque, axial force, safety factor or target service life. The source and assumptions behind those values should be identified so that the technical review can focus on compatibility rather than repeat basic calculations.

Unknown Values Should Be Marked Clearly

It is acceptable for some values to be unknown during an early-stage inquiry. Marking a value as unknown is better than providing an unsupported estimate that could influence product selection. OND may then recommend what should be measured or confirmed before the quotation is finalized.

The checklist can also be used internally by purchasing teams to collect information from engineering, maintenance and production departments before contacting a supplier.