Description
Precision Engineering for Linear Motion Systems
The Q&T straight rack represents a benchmark in precision mechanical components for UK manufacturers, machinery builders, and automation integrators. Manufactured from S45C medium-carbon steel and subjected to a full quench-and-temper (Q&T) heat treatment cycle, each rack achieves a consistent surface hardness of HB20–25, balancing wear resistance with machinability. The tooth profile conforms to DIN8 Grade 7 tolerances, ensuring smooth gear mesh and predictable transmission accuracy across the full working length. Four-side flat grinding and fine tooth cutting deliver a surface finish that reduces backlash to a minimum, making these straight racks equally at home in machine tool slideways, gantry systems, robotic transfer lines, and heavy-duty industrial doors. Whether you are sourcing components for a new CNC build or replacing worn racks in an existing conveyor system across England, Scotland, or Wales, this product line offers a broad module range—from Module 1.5 up to Module 12—to match virtually any design requirement without compromise on geometric accuracy or load capacity.
Why UK Engineers Specify This Straight Rack
DIN8 Grade 7 Tolerance
Tight tooth-spacing accuracy reduces cumulative pitch error (Fp) to as low as 0.066 mm on shorter racks, ensuring consistent transmission at higher speeds.
Q&T Heat Treatment
Full quench-and-temper processing gives the S45C body uniform toughness throughout. The result is superior impact resistance compared to surface-hardened alternatives.
Four-Side Flat Ground
All four faces are precision ground to guarantee mounting flatness and parallelism. This eliminates shimming time on the production line and improves repeatability.
Wide Module Range
Module options from 1.5 to 12 cover light-duty automation through heavy industrial drives, offering buyers a single trusted supplier across multiple project specifications.
Consistent Batch Quality
Every production batch undergoes dimensional inspection against DIN8 tolerance sheets. CMM reports are available on request for quality-critical OEM projects across the UK.
Stock & Custom Supply
Standard lengths of 500 mm and 1000 mm are held ready for dispatch. Non-standard lengths, special tooth profiles, and surface coatings are available as factory custom orders.
Material, Working Principle & Application Scenarios
◆ Material
S45C medium-carbon steel is selected for its reliable combination of tensile strength, machinability, and response to heat treatment. After Q&T processing the core maintains a ductile toughness (HB20–25) while resisting the surface fatigue that would affect an untreated steel rack. This makes it far better suited to cyclic loading than mild steel equivalents often supplied from lower-cost sources.
◆ Working Principle
A straight rack converts rotary motion—delivered by a mating gear or pinion—into precise linear displacement. The relationship Pe = Module x pi governs the tooth pitch, which directly determines the travel per pinion revolution. Controlling cumulative pitch error (Fp) to DIN8 Grade 7 limits ensures that position error remains predictable along the full rack length, which is critical in CNC table drives, laser cutting bridges, and portal crane traversal systems where positioning accuracy is non-negotiable.
◆ Application Scenarios
These straight racks find broad deployment across UK and European industries: CNC routing and milling machine axes, plasma and laser cutting tables, automated warehouse racking transfer systems, robotic welding gantries, hydraulic press ram guides, automated sliding gates in commercial and agricultural installations, and printing machine carriage drives. The modular range makes them straightforward to specify whether the application is in a Birmingham fabrication shop, a Scottish fish processing plant, or a Welsh agricultural equipment manufacturer.
Technical Specifications
Pe = Module x π | Fp = Total Cumulative Pitch Error | Unit/Dimension: mm
| Code | Module | Pt | L | Tooth No. | B | A0 | A1 | D | I | Hole No. | A | C1 | C2 | E | D1 | I1 | C3 | Fp | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 661 | 010 | 050 | 1.5 | 4.7123 | 499.51 | 106 | 17 | 17 | 15.5 | 62.44 | 124.88 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 9.5 | 7 | 29 | 441.5 | 5.7 | 0.066 |
| 661 | 010 | 100 | 1.5 | 4.7123 | 999.03 | 212 | 17 | 17 | 15.5 | 62.44 | 124.88 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 9.5 | 7 | 29 | 941.0 | 5.7 | 0.074 |
| 661 | 015 | 050 | 1.5 | 4.7123 | 499.50 | 106 | 19 | 19 | 17.5 | 62.44 | 124.88 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 29 | 441.5 | 5.7 | 0.066 |
| 661 | 015 | 100 | 1.5 | 4.7123 | 999.03 | 212 | 19 | 19 | 17.5 | 62.44 | 124.88 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 29 | 941.0 | 5.7 | 0.074 |
| 661 | 020 | 050 | 2 | 6.2831 | 502.65 | 80 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 62.83 | 125.66 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 31.3 | 440.1 | 5.7 | 0.066 |
| 661 | 020 | 100 | 2 | 6.2831 | 1005.31 | 160 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 62.83 | 125.66 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 31.3 | 942.7 | 5.7 | 0.074 |
| 661 | 030 | 050 | 3 | 9.4247 | 508.94 | 54 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 63.62 | 127.23 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 15 | 9 | 34.4 | 440.1 | 7.7 | 0.066 |
| 661 | 030 | 100 | 3 | 9.4247 | 1017.88 | 108 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 63.62 | 127.23 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 15 | 9 | 34.4 | 949.1 | 7.7 | 0.072 |
| 661 | 040 | 050 | 4 | 12.5666 | 502.65 | 40 | 39 | 39 | 35 | 62.83 | 125.66 | 4 | 12 | 10 | 15 | 9 | 37.5 | 427.7 | 7.7 | 0.072 |
| 661 | 040 | 100 | 4 | 12.5666 | 1005.31 | 80 | 39 | 39 | 35 | 62.83 | 125.66 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 15 | 9 | 37.5 | 930.3 | 7.7 | 0.078 |
| 661 | 050 | 050 | 5 | 15.7079 | 502.65 | 32 | 49 | 39 | 34 | 62.83 | 125.66 | 4 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 13 | 30.1 | 442.4 | 11.7 | 0.072 |
| 661 | 050 | 100 | 5 | 15.7079 | 1005.31 | 64 | 49 | 39 | 34 | 62.83 | 125.66 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 13 | 30.1 | 945.0 | 11.7 | 0.078 |
| 661 | 060 | 050 | 6 | 18.8495 | 508.94 | 27 | 59 | 49 | 43 | 63.62 | 127.23 | 4 | 16 | 18 | 26 | 17 | 31.4 | 446.1 | 15.7 | 0.072 |
| 661 | 060 | 100 | 6 | 18.8495 | 1017.88 | 54 | 59 | 49 | 43 | 63.62 | 127.23 | 8 | 16 | 18 | 26 | 17 | 31.4 | 955.0 | 15.7 | 0.078 |
| 661 | 080 | 050 | 8 | 25.1327 | 502.65 | 20 | 79 | 79 | 71 | 62.83 | 125.66 | 4 | 25 | 22 | 33 | 21 | 26.6 | 449.5 | 19.7 | 0.08 |
| 661 | 080 | 100 | 8 | 25.1327 | 1005.31 | 40 | 79 | 79 | 71 | 62.83 | 125.66 | 8 | 25 | 22 | 33 | 21 | 26.6 | 952.0 | 19.7 | 0.085 |
| 661 | 100 | 100 | 10 | 31.4159 | 1005.31 | 32 | 99 | 99 | 89 | 62.83 | 125.66 | 8 | 32 | 33 | 48 | 32 | 125.67 | 754.0 | 19.7 | 0.09 |
| 661 | 120 | 100 | 12 | 37.6991 | 1017.88 | 27 | 120 | 120 | 108 | 63.6 | 127.23 | 8 | 40 | 39 | 58 | 38 | 127.23 | 763.4 | 19.7 | 0.09 |
Customer Success Stories
Real results from engineers and procurement teams across the UK and Europe
UK Automated Warehouse Integrator — West Midlands
Logistics Automation | Module 4 Straight Rack, 1000 mm | 240 units/project
A Birmingham-based automation integrator was building a high-throughput pallet shuttle system for a major UK distribution centre. Their previous rack supplier had been delivering product with inconsistent tooth pitch that caused premature wear on the drive pinions, forcing unplanned maintenance every three months. After switching to our Module 4 Q&T straight racks (661-040-100), dimensional conformance on all 240 units was verified against DIN8 Grade 7 tolerance sheets before despatch. Eighteen months after commissioning, the maintenance team reported zero unplanned stoppages attributable to rack-and-pinion wear, reducing annual maintenance costs by an estimated £28,000 across the installation.
Browse our range: Precision Ground Straight Rack — four-side ground for tight positional tolerances in automation systems.
“We’ve sourced straight racks from several suppliers over the years. These are the first ones where every piece in a 100-unit batch measured within tolerance. The four-side ground finish made installation straightforward — no rework at all on the mounting surfaces.”
— James R., Lead Mechanical Engineer
CNC Machine Builder, Yorkshire
“We needed Module 8 racks for a gantry crane project at a Welsh steel processing facility. The lead time quoted was competitive, and the product arrived with full dimensional records. The Q&T treatment was clearly visible in the uniform surface condition. Very happy with the quality-to-price ratio.”
— Sian M., Procurement Manager
Heavy Plant Manufacturer, South Wales
“Requested a custom cut length for a retrofit project on an older laser cutting table in our Manchester facility. The factory accommodated the non-standard length without any minimum order penalty. Communication was responsive and the parts arrived well-packaged. Will definitely order again for our next project.”
— David K., Maintenance Supervisor
Sheet Metal Fabrication, Greater Manchester
Manufacturing Capability & Customisation
🔧 Custom Length & Profile
Non-standard lengths, modified tooth addendum heights, and special pressure angles are all available as factory-engineered orders. Our engineering team works directly with your CAD drawings to confirm feasibility before any order is placed, avoiding costly miscommunication.
🛡 Surface Treatment Options
Beyond standard Q&T, customers can specify induction hardened tooth flanks, black oxide coating for corrosion resistance in damp environments, or zinc phosphate pre-treatment as a primer base. Each option is documented with the delivery paperwork so incoming inspection is straightforward.
📋 Quality Documentation
Material mill certificates, heat treatment records, and CMM dimensional reports are available for all standard and custom orders. Customers operating under ISO 9001 or EN-certified supply chain requirements will find our documentation package fully compliant with UK and EU audit expectations.
🚚 Delivery to UK Addresses
We ship directly to UK postcodes via established freight partners with full export documentation including commercial invoice, packing list, and certificates of origin. Our logistics team is familiar with UK customs requirements and can arrange DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) terms on request to simplify your importation process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to specify Q&T straight racks for your next UK project? Our engineering team is ready to assist.
edit by gzl
