The materials used in roller linear guides vary depending on the different components: the guide body, the slider, and the rolling elements (rollers).
Medium carbon steel: Brands like HIWIN often use medium carbon steel, which is surface-treated with hard chrome (HC) or chemical black chrome (NC) plating to enhance wear resistance and rust prevention.
Stainless steel: Austenitic stainless steel (such as SUS440C or equivalent) is used in some micro-sized or special environments (such as the food, medical, and electronics industries) for guides, providing a certain degree of rust resistance.
Bearing steel: Such as GCr15 (SUJ2), widely used in high-load, high-precision roller guides, possessing high strength, high hardness (HRC58–62), and good wear resistance.
Rolling elements (rollers):
Mostly made of high-carbon chromium bearing steel (such as GCr15/SUJ2), with a hardness reaching HRC60 or higher after heat treatment, ensuring wear resistance and fatigue resistance under high contact stress.