Linear Guides

Linear guides are motion systems that use one or more linear rails and guided carriages to support and accurately position loads along a single axis, providing one degree of freedom. The carriage moves along the rail using either rolling elements, such as ball bearings or rollers, or self-lubricating sliding surfaces. The linear rail provides the straight guide track, load support, and alignment required for controlled, low-friction linear movement. 

Linear guides from PBC Linear are made in the USA around three core technologies—Gliding Surface Technology, V-Rail Technology, and Cam Roller Technology (CRT)—each optimized for specific application demands while maintaining high rigidity, alignment, and long travel. Gliding Surface Technology uses self-lubricating guides sliding on FrelonGold® liners to eliminate metal-to-metal contact, providing quiet, maintenance-free operation with strong resistance to extreme temperatures, dirt, debris, vibration, and washdown conditions, as used in Mini-Rail® miniature linear rail guides and Uni-Guide™ linear slides. V-Rail Technology uses hardened or stainless steel raceways with self-aligning V-wheels for smooth rolling motion and simplified alignment in systems such as V-Guide™ and IVT (Integral V Technology). Cam Roller Technology (CRT) uses rolling-element carriages on hardened raceways embedded within durable linear rails to support higher loads, longer travel, and higher speeds, as found in Commercial Rail, Redi-Rail®, and heavy-duty Hevi-Rail® systems. Recirculating ball profile rail guides provide high rigidity and load capacity for precision applications. In cantilevered load applications, adherence to the 2:1 binding rule remains an important design consideration, with rolling-element guides generally offering greater tolerance compared to sliding-contact systems.

Features and Specifications of Linear Guide Types

Cam Roller Linear Guides
V-Rail Linear Guide Systems
Gliding Surface Linear Guides
Linear Actuators (Linear Guides with Motors or Hand Cranks)

Frequently Asked Questions