Guide Elements

Guide elements take up the side loads between piston and tube and between rod and gland inside the cylinder, preventing metal surfaces from touching. They do not seal, but they make lasting sealing possible: if guiding fails, the piston rubs on the tube, the rod runs off-centre in the gland and the seal works under uneven load and soon fails.

Side loads are present in almost every application. The weight of the load on the end of the cylinder, fitting tolerances and rod deflection, which increases with rod length, all press the piston towards the tube wall. A guide strip spreads this load over a wide area, lowering surface pressure and keeping friction under control.

The category contains guide strips (strip types cut to size), ready-made guide rings and back-up rings. Material options include PTFE and bronze-filled PTFE, POM (acetal), polyamide (PA), phenolic resin-fabric composites, polyester resin and aramid-reinforced structures. Bronze-filled PTFE suits heavy duty with its high load-bearing capacity; POM and polyamide suit applications where economy and dimensional stability matter; phenolic and polyester composites are chosen for high loads and impacts.

Across the product tables in this category, the temperature range spans a wide band from −200 °C to +280 °C depending on material. For guide elements the deciding value is surface load capacity rather than pressure; each product's own values are given on its page.

Guide elements are used in construction-machinery cylinders, long-stroke press and lifting systems, telescopic cylinders and any arrangement with high side loads. Because deflection increases as the rod gets longer, the width and position of the guiding are critical to the design of long-stroke cylinders. If a guide strip shows deep scoring, deformation or a noticeable loss of thickness, replace it together with the seals.

Our team in OSTİM, Ankara, can help you choose size and material.