Stainless steel linear modules

Hardened stainless steel
Linear axis guides of hardened stainless steel are usually offered in combination with recirculating ball bearing systems and roller bearing guides. The guide system's metal balls require a strong running surface to prevent them from creating grooves. Hardened stainless steel such as AISI 420C, AISI 440B and AISI 440C has a relatively high carbon content (more than 0.5%), which is necessary for hardening in the first place. This means that hardened stainless steel is only somewhat corrosion-resistant. The necessary lubrication for recirculating ball bearing systems and roller bearing guides entails a danger of contaminating products, which is undesirable in many areas.

Non-hardened stainless steel
Non-hardened stainless steel has a lower carbon content and inferior hardness, but is much more resistant to corrosion and aggressive cleaning agents and chemicals. Because recirculating ball bearing systems and roller bearing guides are not as well suited to moving on non-hardened stainless steel, a plain bearing system is used. The force exerted at particular points on the rail material is changed to area force. The load on the linear rail is distributed across a greater area, avoiding material wear.