The　rail　displacement　fluctuation　error　with　time-varying　stiffness　and　damping　in　the　vertical　direction　was　considered　as　a　displacement　excitation　of　a　linear　guide　in　its　process　of　movement,　and　vibration　analysis　of　the　roller　linear　guide　under　the　rail　displacement　excitation　was　studied.　Firstly,　the　dynamic　characteristics　of　the　roller　linear　guide　were　analyzed,　the　vertical　stiffness　was　calculated　according　to　Hertz　contact　theory,　and　the　damping　characteristics　under　different　frequencies　was　identified　based　on　the　measured　hysteresis　loops　of　a　linear　guide　unit.　Then　a　dynamic　model　with　generalized　time-varying　stiffness　and　damping　of　the　roller　linear　guide　was　formulated.　The　incremental　harmonic　balance　method　(IHB)　of　the　nonlinear　vibration　theory　was　introduced　to　analyze　the　vibration　progress　of　the　model.　The　numerical　simulation　was　used　to　verify　the　feasibility　of　the　approach.　©　2016,　Editorial　Office　of　Journal　of　Vibration　and　Shock.　All　right　reserved.