Hello,

I was wondering what the options are for lowering friction along a guide. I've seen guide designs that used a PTFE pad at the shoe bottom, but it appears that the sides would still be steel-on-steel.

I'm looking to lower the side friction (that is, friction force parallel to the pipe from the normal force of the guide acting perpendicular to pipe). Are there designs that use a lower friction surface along the sides of the guide as well?

Thanks,

http://www.glt.ibg-monforts.de/katalog/katalog_pdf/katalog.pdf

Regards,

You can use a couple of shoes (welded or clamped) with teflon, or with roll supports. Roll supports are not good in case you can't have good maintenance. PTFE normally works with low friction coefficient only if temperature, loads and velocity are not too high.

Corrado Vannella
www.vannella.com