Drawer Slides and Linear Guides

Customization for Specialized Applications

Whether it’s oven rack slides, workshop drawers, furniture drawer slides, battery trays, access rails, or anything else you need to move quickly, Sugatsune America can help you find the custom solutions you need. Our standard selection of drawer slides and linear slide guides can solve most of your needs, but we are always eager to solve customers’ specific problems with our technical expertise.

Reach Out to a Drawer Hardware Expert

Since 1930, Sugatsune America has been a trusted worldwide source of precision-engineered original hardware solutions. You can find a unique hardware solution, from residential or commercial architectural and furniture hardware to industrial components for industries including food, medical equipment, transportation, and aerospace. Sugatsune America is AS9120B and ISO 9001:2015 certified, and distributes unique products to create convenience and satisfaction for our customers worldwide.

Our stainless steel drawer slides and linear slide guides are perfect for any custom project your engineering team may need! Need other solutions as well? Explore over 6,000 products available in the United States from Sugatsune America. Please consult our digital resources, featuring extensive product literature and downloadable CAD files, or contact our team of experts to find the right solution to your creative challenges!

FAQs

What is the key difference between a Drawer Slide and a Linear Guide or a Linear Slide Guide?

The key difference between drawer slides and Linear motion Guides/Slides is their usage. What is the application usage calling for? A drawer slide is meant primarily to move an object out and back; typically a drawer, shelf or compartment.  A drawer slide is a telescoping motion system that is intended for hand-operated access.  The basic anatomy of a drawer slide consists of an outmember that acts as a guide for an intermediate member which provides the telescoping function. There is also an inner member that travels with the drawer. There are basically two common types of slides, ball-bearing slides which use steel or stainless steel balls inside a raceway cage and there are roller slides which use plastic or nylon wheels that run in channels. A linear guide is a precision motion system for when you need exact travel paths, minimal deflection or consistent, repeatable movement. They consist of a rigid, precision engineered rail and a carriage or block that rides on it. The carriage may rely on recirculating ball bearings, wheels or friction to travel along the rail.

Purpose and Usage:

Drawer slides are primarily designed for storage applications, extending and retracting drawers smoothly in cabinetry, office furniture, and kitchen storage. Linear guides are intended for precision motion control in operations and automation, such as CNC machines, robotics, and industrial equipment, where accurate, stable, and rigid guidance is required during movement.

Motion Type

Drawer slides allow telescoping motion, enabling the drawer to slide out past the cabinet face by the length of the extended slide. The movement consists of nested members sliding past one another. In contrast, linear guides provide linear motion along a fixed rail, with the carriage moving precisely back and forth without extension or nesting mechanisms.

Load and Force Handling:

Linear guides are engineered to support high loads, including significant axial, radial, and torque forces, and maintain precise positioning under off-center or uneven loads. Drawer slides are not designed to handle substantial torque or uneven loading.

Orientation and Mounting:

Drawer slides are usually mounted in horizontal pairs at the sides of a drawer or at the bottom of a drawer. Linear guides are more versatile, suitable for various orientations, including vertical and angled orientations, and can be used individually or in combination for precision equipment.

What is travel length?

Travel length is the distance the inner member travels past the outer member. Travel length is measured from the leading edge to the outer edge of the mounted member.

When considering a slide, there are different travel categories:

Over-travel allows the drawer to travel past the full slide length.

Full-Extension allows the inner member to travel the full slide length.

3/4 Extension allows the inner member to travel 3/4 of the slide length

2-Way Travel allows for the inner member to travel both forward and backward from the outer member

What are the different mounting types for ball bearing slides?

There are three mounting types for ball-bearing drawer slides.

Side Mount, which is affixed to the side of the drawer. This is one of the most common mounting types and offers a higher load capacity than other mounting types.

Undermount slides are installed beneath the drawer. This creates an invisible look but has a lower load capacity compared to the side mount.

Center Mount, which refers to a single drawer guide slide installed beneath the drawer’s middle. This also achieves an invisible appearance; however, it has the lowest load capacity of the three options.

What are the most critical considerations for Product Selection when choosing drawer slides?

There are three main requirements to consider when selecting a drawer slide for your project.

Load Capacity – Do the contents of the drawer exceed the weight limit?

Travel – What type of extension does the application require?

Side clearance (profile) - Is there proper spacing between the drawer and cabinet to fit the linear drawer slide?

Other considerations include the necessity for 100% Stainless steel drawer slide construction. Is this for an interior or an exterior cabinet project?

Unique features include soft close, hold-in detent, positive lock, and quick disconnect.

What are the different types of linear guides, and what are their typical use cases?

Linear guides are mechanical components that provide smooth, controlled motion along a single axis. They may resemble drawer slides, but they serve a different purpose. Linear guides move heavy loads with high accuracy. Common types of linear guides include:

Recirculating Ball Bearing: These use ball bearings within a fixed housing for low-friction movement. Use for smooth and high-speed travel with minimal friction. Daily use cases include automated machinery, robotics, CNC machines, and factory automation.

Profile Rail Guide: They consist of a carriage that moves along a hardened steel rail. You can expect top-tier rigidity and the ability to withstand high loads. Recommended applications include heavy-duty drawers in manufacturing, material handling, and large-scale automation, where the combination of stability and load-bearing capacity is most critical.

What are the main benefits of using stainless steel, ball bearings, and soft-close operation in your products?

Sugatsune America is dedicated to providing you with precision-engineered hardware. We focus on materials and features that deliver superior performance. Stainless steel, ball bearings, and soft-close operation in our products offer benefits across various drawer slides & linear guide applications and use cases: In fact, Sugatsune has one of the only soft-closing stainless steel drawer slides on the market!

Stainless Steel: Valued for its top-tier corrosion resistance, stainless steel is also durable and hygienic. We recommend it for applications like drawer slides where moisture or harsh chemicals are present. Outdoor kitchens, labs, marine environments, and food processing facilities are just some of the areas where stainless steel truly shines.

Ball Bearings: Precision ball bearings ensure smooth and low-friction movement. They also provide quiet motion. We recommend ball bearings for efficiently handling both dynamic and static loads. The smooth motion helps products last longer.

Soft-Close Operation: This popular feature prevents drawers or doors from slamming shut. Sugatsune America products with this feature contain a mechanism that controls the final inches of closing motion. They move quietly and gently into a closed position. Soft-close hardware also protects contents from damage. This is useful in residential and commercial applications.