Guide rolls steer the tube through the mill. Small, cheap, and when one wears out of round the tube gets a twist that nobody can explain.
Why it matters on the line
- Keeps the strip centred through the stands, which is why a worn guide roll shows up as a twisted or oval tube
- Runs at the weld point, so it also has to survive the heat and the scale
- One of the fastest wearing items on the mill, and the cheapest to replace
- We supply them individually or as a set matched to your stand layout
What we supply
| Item | What we hold to | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Guide clearance | As your pass line drawing | Too tight and it scratches, too loose and the tube twists |
| Hardness | HRC 58+ | Runs at the weld point with scale present |
| Surface finish | Ground, no burr | A burr marks the tube surface |
| Availability | Stock sizes in stock | It is the item you need when the line is already stopped |
Every item is machined in our own workshop and marked before it is packed, so it goes back to the stand it came from. If you send us a drawing or a sample we work to that; if you are not sure what you need, send us the mill model and the pass line and we will tell you.
Technical notes
Guide rolls look like minor parts, but a guide that has gone out of round puts a slow twist into the tube that no downstream stand will correct. The clearance has to be tight enough to steady the tube and loose enough not to score the surface — on coated or polished tube that difference decides whether the roll is an asset or a marking problem. We grind the contact surface without burrs and hold the hardness at the points that actually touch the tube. Because guides are cheap and fast to replace, they are often the first thing we suggest checking when a dimensional problem appears to come from nowhere.
Frequently asked questions
What does a worn guide roll do to the tube?
It lets the tube drift or twist between stands. The result is a slow dimensional or straightness drift that does not point obviously at any one stand.
How tight should guide roll clearance be?
Tight enough to steady the tube, loose enough not to mark it. The figure comes from your tube size and surface condition, and is confirmed on the first trial run.
Related products
Tube mill rolls · Tube mill roll set · Tube mill roll design · ERW tube mill line
Send us the drawing or the sample
A drawing, a photo with a ruler in frame, or the mill model is enough for us to quote and to tell you honestly whether the item should be reground or replaced.
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