Guide Rails and Edge Guides

For guide rails, we generally specify a relatively hard durometer (80A–95A) to maximize stiffness and wear life. At these hardness levels, polyurethane is very rigid and load-bearing, providing long-lasting abrasion resistance. For instance, 80A material already resists heavy wear, while 90A–95A material becomes extremely stiff for heavy-duty usage. Using 80A–90A rails means the guide profile will hold its shape under load, ensuring consistent product guidance over time. In practice, we often choose around 80A–90A for most conveyor guides; higher Shore-D formulations (above ~95A) are reserved for the toughest, most abrasive services.

We offer guide rails in two main stock forms: bar stock (primary) and sheet material (secondary). Bar stock is our main form, cast urethane bars in square cross-section. We stock square bars up to 8″×8″, with most rails made from 1″–3″ widths. These bars are abrasion and chemical-resistant (meeting high industry standards) and have a high load-bearing capacity. Custom cross-sections or special colors are available by request. Sheet material is the secondary form. We carry thick urethane panels (up to 4″ thick) in the same hardness range, which can be slit or machined into thin guide strips. Like our bars, the sheets are abrasion- and chemical-resistant. A sheet can be routed into long edge guides or strips to fit narrow channels or custom profiles.

• Rail Width: Guide rails are commonly 1″–3″ wide (square bar sections) to fit standard conveyor channels. Wider sections are possible if your conveyor has a larger guide slot, or multiple rails can be used in parallel.
  
• Rail Thickness (Height): Choose the rail height to fill or nearly fill the mounting channel. Thicker rails increase support and wear life, while thinner strips are used in shallow channels. In general, rails are made as tall as the channel allows for maximum rigidity. We work with you to match the rail thickness to your channel geometry and required stiffness.