What Is a Ball Screw and How Does It Work?

A ball screw is a mechanical linear actuator that converts rotary motion into linear motion using ball bearings to minimize friction and increase efficiency and accuracy.

What Types of Ball Screws Do You Offer?

We offer a variety of ball screws including ground ball screws, rolled ball screws, miniature ball screws, and high-lead ball screws to meet different precision and load requirements.

How Do I Choose the Right Ball Screw for My Application?

Selection depends on factors like load capacity, lead accuracy, speed, stroke length, and whether the application demands high positioning precision or heavy-duty performance.

What Is the Difference Between Ground and Rolled Ball Screws?

Ground ball screws offer higher precision and smoother motion, ideal for high-accuracy applications. Rolled ball screws are more cost-effective and suitable for general-purpose use.

What Maintenance Is Required for a Ball Screw?

Regular lubrication is essential. Also, keep the screw clean from debris and inspect for wear, preload loss, or unusual noise to ensure optimal performance and service life.

YIDI Motion Factory Linear Rail Production

Reliable 400mm Linear Rails: Built for Demanding Automation Projects

When you're sourcing components for precision machinery, a solid 400mm linear rail isn't just another part—it's the backbone of smooth, repeatable motion. We've seen too many projects stall because of cheap imports that bind under load or wear out after a few months. At YIDI Motion, our 400mm linear rails come from a factory that's dialed in on high-volume production with German and Japanese machining lines ensuring tolerances hold up in real-world conditions.

These rails handle everything from CNC router tables to robotic arms, where even a micron of play can throw off tolerances. Procurement teams often overlook the preload options or block spacing, but that's where we step in with straightforward advice. We've shipped thousands to the US, Europe, and beyond, so we know what clears customs smoothly and what doesn't.

Quick Spec Overview: Hardened steel rail, 20-45mm widths available, dynamic load up to 25kN per block. Matched blocks sold separately or as kits.

Linear motion isn't glamorous, but get it right and your machines run for years without drama. We've dealt with buyers who switched from overseas discounters after their rails started chipping—lesson learned the hard way. Our setup lets us customize lengths precisely at 400mm, no cutting required on your end.

Factory-direct from Hebei, China—ISO 9001 certified production.
Preload classes: light, medium, heavy for your load needs.
Export-ready packaging for 20ft containers (up to 500 rails per load).

Market Trends in Linear Motion
Key Features of Our 400mm Rails
Real-World Applications
Common Procurement Pitfalls
Detailed Specifications
Installation Best Practices
Shipping and Lead Times
Our Manufacturing Edge
Certifications and Compliance
What Buyers Say
Frequently Asked Questions
Get Started Today

Shifting Demands in Linear Rail Sourcing

Automation projects are exploding across US manufacturing floors. From automotive assembly lines to 3D printing rigs, the call for compact, high-load linear rails at 400mm stroke lengths is steady. We've noticed importers prioritizing rails that integrate seamlessly with stepper motors or servo drives— no more fiddling with mismatched carriages.

Supply chain snarls have pushed buyers toward reliable partners. Rails from unverified sources often arrive with surface rust or inconsistent hardness, leading to early failures. Our data from repeat orders shows most US clients reorder within six months once they test our consistency.

Trend-wise, there's a move toward integrated systems: rail plus ball screw or module. But for standalone 400mm needs, like upgrade kits for older machines, precision-ground surfaces make all the difference.

Precision Grinding of 400mm Linear Rails

What Sets Our 400mm Linear Rails Apart

Start with the basics: our rails are through-hardened to HRC 58-62, resisting brinelling better than softer alternatives. Four rows of recirculating balls in the carriage blocks ensure low friction—typically under 0.003 coefficient.

We offer widths from 15mm up, but 400mm lengths shine in mid-sized gantries. Gothic arch contact angle at 45 degrees handles moment loads without flex. Not all suppliers spec this clearly, but it matters when your Z-axis wobbles.

Practical Edge: Blocks are interchangeable across lengths, so scaling production doesn't mean new tooling.

Anti-corrosion coating options for humid environments. We've packed these for Florida machine shops without a single claim.

Accuracy grades: C0 to C7, down to 0.003mm/300mm straightness.
Dynamic load: 15-50kN depending on size.
Static load: 2-5x dynamic for safety.
Max speed: 5m/s, acceleration 20m/s².

Where 400mm Linear Rails Deliver Results

CNC mills. Picture retrofitting a Haas VF-2 with dual rails for heavier spindles—our 400mm sections slot in perfectly, cutting deflection by half what stock allows.

Pick-and-place robots in electronics assembly. Compact footprint means tighter layouts, and the smooth travel reduces jitter on vision systems.

Even in packaging lines, where rails guide fillers or sealers. One Midwest client used ours to replace seized imports, dropping downtime from weekly to rare.

DIY automation? Makerspaces buy these for custom XY plotters. Reliable enough for hobby, tough for production.

Installed 400mm Linear Rail in CNC Machine

Pitfalls We've Seen in Linear Rail Buying

Procurement managers chase the lowest quote, only to face rails that pit after 10,000 cycles. Check hardness certs upfront—many skip it.

Mismatched blocks and rails. Always buy matched sets; off-the-shelf mixes lead to binding.

Overlooking mounting holes. Our 400mm rails have standard M4-M8 patterns, DIN-aligned.

Lead time traps. Spot market can take 12 weeks; we quote 3-4 from stock.

Short sentence: Freight kills margins. Consolidate with other motion parts.

Technical Specifications Table

Model	Rail Width (mm)	Length (mm)	Dyn Load (kN)	Sta Load (kN)	Block Size
HGR20-400	20	400	18.5	37	55x47x70
HGR25-400	23	400	23.4	46.8	70x58x84
HGR30-400	28	400	29.6	59.2	90x72x106
HGR35-400	34	400	34.5	69	100x82x121
HGR45-400	45	400	52.3	104.6	120x100x154

linear rail 400mm 2000mm linear rail linear rail 2000mm

*Values based on standard preload Z0. Custom options available. Tolerances per ISO 2768-m.

Pro Tip: Pair with our ball screw for full axis kits. Request a bundle quote.

Field-Tested Installation Notes

Alignment is king. Use a dial indicator to check parallelism within 0.02mm over 400mm. Torque bolts to 8-12Nm—overdo it and you preload unevenly.

Mount on machined surfaces only; cast iron works, but granite bases are ideal for vibration damping.

Lube sparingly with lithium grease NLGI 2. Wipe excess—dust magnets kill performance.

Clean rail ends thoroughly.
Position blocks loosely.
Shim if needed for level.
Cycle 10 full strokes before final torque.

Common error: Skipping end wipers. They catch chips before they score the raceway.

25Mm Linear Rail

Global Shipping Realities

From Shijiazhuang to your door: 25-35 days to US West Coast via ocean. Air for prototypes: 7-10 days.

Packing: Foam sleeved, palletized. 20ft holds 400-600 pcs of 400mm rails.

Duties? HS code 8482.10—check your tariff schedule. We provide commercial invoices tailored for CBP.

MOQ: 10 pcs for samples, 100 for production. Volume discounts kick in at 500.

Palletized Linear Rails Ready for Export

Inside YIDI Motion's Operation

100 staff, 30% senior techs. Japanese Okuma grinders and German Zeiss CMMs keep us precise. Started 2020, now exporting to 50+ countries—Germany loves our consistency, US buyers our pricing.

OEM/ODM? Full service. Private label your rails with your specs.

One-stop: Rails, blocks, screws, modules. Cuts your vendor juggling.