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Guide Shaft Quality Judgment Methods: Key Indicators & Inspection Tips

Methods to Judge the Quality of Guide Shafts

I. Role of Guide Shafts in Equipment

Guide shafts are core components commonly found in automated equipment, CNC machine tools, linear modules, and other motion structures. Their primary functions are to support loads and provide linear guidance. The quality of guide shafts directly affects equipment operation accuracy, service life, and processing efficiency.

II. Key Quality Indicators for Guide Shafts

  1. Surface Finish (Roughness)

  • The surface must have a high finish, with the standard Ra value controlled below 0.2μm.

  • Poor surface polishing increases friction and wear of the guide bushings.

  1. Hardness and Wear Resistance

  • High-quality guide shafts usually undergo quenching treatment, with surface hardness reaching above HRC58.

  • Insufficient hardness can cause rail deformation or rapid wear.

  1. Coaxiality and Straightness

  • Guide shafts should maintain excellent axial straightness and cylindricity, with smaller errors ensuring better stability.

  • Shaft deviation can be checked using laser measuring instruments or micrometers.

  1. Quality of Electroplating Layer

  • Quality guide shafts often have a hard chrome plating, which should be dense, uniform, and free of bubbles or peeling.

  • Visual inspection and plating adhesion tests can evaluate the plating quality.

  1. Material Identification and Internal Quality

  • Materials are mostly high-carbon chromium bearing steel (e.g., GCr15), some use medium carbon quenched steel or stainless steel.

  • Material consistency can be verified by spectral analysis or hardness testing.

III. Guide Shaft Inspection Methods and Recommended Tools

  1. Visual Inspection

  • Check for scratches, pitting, cracks, or peeling defects.

  1. Hardness Testing

  • Use Rockwell or Vickers hardness testers to ensure surface hardness meets standards.

  1. Straightness Testing

  • Place the guide shaft on a granite surface plate, use a micrometer with V-blocks or a laser calibrator to detect bending.

  1. Surface Roughness Measurement

  • Check if the Ra value meets requirements to avoid premature wear.

  1. Dimensional Measurement

  • Use an outside micrometer to measure size consistency across sections and diameter tolerances (commonly h6 or h7).

IV. Suggestions for Purchasing High-Quality Guide Shafts

  • Choose products from reputable brands with inspection reports and material certificates.

  • Pay attention to after-sales and matching services, such as custom lengths, machined ends, and guide bushing compatibility.

  • For high-precision applications, prioritize nitriding treatment or precision shafts with centerless grinding.

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