Steel Shelf Rails for Plastic Drawers

It will scrap the paint off with (short) time. Standard drawers use nylon or similar bearings.

Yes, you are correct...I have used rollers or bearings for decades. Now, allow me to elaborate. What I have in my lab is a rather unique setup: it is a refrigerator (a competitor to what my company manufactures) with a simple rail system as I described, and a simple plastic (here, polycarbonate) pan.

I have cycled this drawer with test apparatus over 50,000 times as this is written (in fact, it's cycling as I write) and has shown virtually no wear on the rail/guides or drawer. It's actually rather interesting that this has occurred.

There are some legalities which prevent me from naming it (it is a European model), but I suppose my question is really this; has anyone had any experience with a setup like this. There are many which use a plastic on plastic setup, or rollers/bearings. Or perhaps, the question might be if someone has seen one or used one in Europe, or elsewhere for that matter. My next steps are to do some analysis to see if I find something unusual in the polycarb or the powder coating.

Ok, I see. Well, I have only seen plastic drawers sliding on plastic rails in refrigerators, and steel wire drawers on plastic rails in a freezer. I think the freezer was made so because it's cycling is much lower - but it does show wear signs over time.

<told to look at a direct (rubbing) interface between the rail and shelf; no bearings, rollers, guides, etc; direct plastic on metal. I don't really like it, but it is the first step.>

If that works-and competitors found no better---space saving solutions-that should be your Choice too. As you said<First Step.>

Rollformers are there with tooling --just for this Product --in Steel/Alu.

A Light touch ofSilicone Grease will keep users happy for many years.

mm

If specific load is low and sliding speed under a limit there is no wear. There are research made by IBM for a "zero wear" design of bearings. I used the theory with very good results. In a refrigerator I am sure you can avoid any complex "bearing" treatment. Your first step can be the only one you need.

Many plastics are "self lubricating" and can provide excellent survival without the need for bearings. (Like lawn mower wheels)

The issues arise when the linear velocity of movement exceeds certain parameters (dependant upon force per unit area) and then the materials begin to microscopically melt at the interface and break down.

The plastic "acetal" is particularly good for lubrication characteristics.

The plastic supplier have details of interface compatability for materials in that type of condition and I'm sure that if you consult them they would be able to give you advice, especially if you approach them with proposed loading and maximum velocity details.