SKS3 Steel Heel Guide Rails - Oil Groove Option

Heel guide rails are used in injection mold tooling where long, straight motion must remain stable under repeated cycling. The one-side oil groove option helps route lubricant to the heel-side contact area, reducing dry friction and supporting consistent sliding behavior over the rail stroke.

Common scenarios include automotive connector and insert molds with powered slides or supporting guide assemblies, where alignment accuracy directly affects part fit-up and surface quality. The groove provides controlled lubrication management on the heel contact line, which is helpful when loads vary during open/close motion.

They are also suited for medical device housings and other tight-tolerance components that rely on smooth movement of workpiece positioning fixtures or auxiliary slide plates. In these applications, SKS3 steel’s durable wear behavior supports reliable guidance without frequent rail replacement.

• Use the oil groove variant where lubrication can be maintained along one side for steady contact conditions
• Select rail width/thickness to match guide plate stiffness and mounting geometry

This heel guide rail uses either SKS3 steel (default) or HPM2T depending on the configured material option. The selected steel primarily determines wear resistance during sliding and the balance between hardness and toughness under repetitive load.

SKS3 steel: typically hardened and tempered for improved wear resistance in sliding guide service. With proper heat treatment, it provides reliable toughness for continuous motion systems, reducing the risk of edge chipping while maintaining stable surface behavior.

HPM2T: offered as an alternative where a more wear-focused steel grade is preferred for guide components. Compared with SKS3, the hardness/abrasion resistance characteristics can shift the wear–toughness trade-off, so the best choice depends on load level and lubrication conditions.

• Oil-groove lubrication increases effective wear life by keeping the heel contact conditions consistent
• Choose SKS3 when balanced toughness and durable sliding performance are required
• Choose HPM2T when your application prioritizes wear resistance under abrasive or high-cycle conditions

To select the correct heel guide rails, match rail thickness T, rail width W, and rail length L to your guide/slide plate geometry and travel requirements. Use the provided ranges: T = 12.5 ~ 39 mm, W options = 10, 12.5, 15, 20, 25, 35 mm, and L = 35 ~ 110 mm.

For the heel profile, select heel height from 5, 8, or 15 mm and heel width from 2.5, 3.5, 4.5, or 5 mm to ensure proper contact location on the mating component. The heel dimensions should align with the intended contact surface so the oil groove (if selected) feeds the correct side during operation.

• Confirm mounting interfaces: thickness T must fit the guide plate slot or boss geometry
• Ensure length L covers the required sliding stroke without interference
• Check fit and assembly tolerances at the rail-to-guide mating surfaces to maintain stable linear guidance
• Oil groove vs non-oil groove is a configurable option for lubrication routing