As a core component of precision transmission and positioning, linear guides have been widely used in high-precision fields such as CNC machine tools, robots, and 3D printing equipment. However, during use, they often come into contact with various dust, smoke, and even corrosive substances, leading to the risk of rusting, which directly affects the equipment's accuracy and service life. Therefore, effective maintenance of linear guides is crucial.

1. Common Causes of Rust

1.1 Metal surfaces are directly exposed to the air

1.2 Contact with corrosive liquids or gases

1.3 Insufficient lubrication or lubricant failure

1.4 Contact with human secretions such as sweat

Railway rail rust mainly originates from two aspects: chemical corrosion of the metal itself and erosion by the external environment. Among these, human contact during operation is particularly critical. Human sweat is weakly acidic and contains various salts and organic acids. When sweat comes into contact with the metal surface of the rail, it forms an electrolyte film, triggering electrochemical reactions that lead to metal corrosion. Even if rust preventive oil is applied at the factory, improper operation and storage can still expose the rails to rust risks.

2. Anti-rust methods

2.1. Operation and maintenance

2.1.1. Built-in Guide Rail Protection: For guide rails inside the equipment that are obstructed, regularly check their surface lubrication status. Timely supplement with lubricating oil or grease to maintain an effective oil film, reduce friction and wear, and extend the life of the slide blocks.

2.1.2. Exposed Guide Rail Maintenance: Guide rails exposed to dusty and humid environments require more frequent maintenance. It is recommended to clean the accumulated oil stains and impurities on the guide rail surface once a week, and reapply an appropriate amount of lubricating oil (grease) after cleaning. Regular maintenance is the foundation for ensuring their long-term smooth operation.

2.2. Regular Cleaning

To prevent the guide rails from rusting, we need to keep the surface of the linear guide rails clean. The cleaning method should be selected according to the nature of the rust-prone object surface and the usage conditions. After cleaning, thorough drying is required, which can be achieved by blowing dry with filtered compressed air, drying with a dedicated drying device (at moderate temperature), or wiping with a clean lint-free cloth. Immediately after drying, apply rust preventive oil, and choose methods such as immersion, brushing, or spraying to ensure uniform coverage of the oil film.

2.3. Lubrication and maintenance

In general, manufacturers will apply a layer of rust preventive oil on linear guides before they leave the factory to protect them from rusting. Many users ignore regularly reapplying rust preventive oil when storing linear guides in warehouses. Once the rust preventive oil originally applied at the factory evaporates, its protective function for the linear guides disappears. Therefore, it is very necessary to regularly lubricate and maintain linear guides.

Welcome to contact us for more videos！