Guide units keep the tool halves in precise alignment. The bush type you pick decides how fast, how clean and how heavily the tool can run.
The job of a guide unit
A guide pillar (post) fixed in one tool half slides through a bush in the other, holding the two halves — and any moving plates — in exact register, stroke after stroke. That alignment protects the cutting and forming elements and keeps part quality consistent. The pillar and bush are the constant; the choice is how the bush rides the pillar.
Ball-cage (and roller-cage) guides
A cage of hardened balls or rollers runs between pillar and bush, so the two never slide directly — they roll.
- Near-zero friction and no backlash (the cage is lightly preloaded).
- Excellent for high-speed and precision work — progressive dies, fine-blanking, connector and lead-frame tooling.
- Long life and clean running, with no lubrication film to attract swarf.
They prefer clean conditions and square, concentric loads, and the cage must not run past its travel limit.
Plain (sliding / oilless) bushes
A bronze or solid-lubricant bush slides directly on the pillar.
- Handle high side-loads and some misalignment.
- Tolerate dirty, contaminated or heavy-duty conditions where a ball cage would struggle.
- Oilless (graphite- or polymer-plugged) versions run with little or no added lubrication.
More friction and slightly more wear than rolling guides — better suited to slower, heavier work.
Choosing between them
- Speed and precision high, conditions clean → ball or roller cage.
- Heavy side-load, misalignment or a dirty environment → plain or oilless bush.
- Match the pillar and bush size to your die set, and standardise on metric or inch to suit your tooling.
IMPEX supplies the full Steinel Normalien guide-unit range — pillars, bushes and ball cages, in metric, inch and customer-specific sizes. Tell us your die set and duty and we'll specify the right guides.