Grease‑Free drylin® Linear Guides in Modern Furniture
As part of a machine building course at the Cologne Chamber of Trade, 24 carpentry trainees from the Bergisch Gladbach Vocational College were tasked with designing and producing a small series of furniture pieces within five days. The teams blended Scandinavian design with industrial functionality, delivering a pull‑out bedside table and a coffee table that features both a rotating drawer and an extendable centre section.
Push to Open Bedside Table
To modernize the conventional nightstand, the classic drawer was removed while concealed storage was retained via a push‑to‑open mechanism. The actuation relies on two hard‑anodized aluminum shafts paired with two drylin linear plain bearings made from tribologically optimized iglide® J high‑performance polymer. The round shafts integrate cleanly with the furniture design, and the slides provide easy, smooth, and quiet motion with straightforward assembly.
Long Travel, Quiet Motion in a Coffee Table
The coffee table showcases two standout functions: a rotating drawer with a pressure‑open mechanism and a sliding centre section for extra storage. Durability and appearance were decisive, leading to the choice of the drylin NT 35 aluminum telescopic rail with an attractive anodized finish and polymer sliding elements. The tribo‑polymer glide surfaces deliver soft, smooth travel while eliminating rollers in favour of grease‑free polymer sliders—a combination that runs quietly, stays clean, and resists dust or dirt build‑up on the rails. As a result, the rails combine function and design in a manner ideally suited to premium furniture.
Chosen components:
• Hard‑anodized aluminum shafts for low mass and durability
• drylin dry‑running plain bearings for clean, quiet motion
• drylin NT telescopic rail for long‑travel extension with smooth guidance
Key Advantages for Furniture Designers and Makers
• Grease‑free operation: polymer glides with solid lubricants remove grease and oil from the design.
• Quiet motion: polymer sliders reduce noise versus roller systems.
• Clean aesthetics: hard‑anodized aluminum pairs well with modern finishes.
• Fast assembly: students highlighted straightforward installation in the project.
FAQs
Q1: Why choose polymer plain bearings over roller slides in furniture?
Polymer sliding elements run quietly, need no external lubrication, and resist dust build‑up—benefits that improve reliability and cleanliness in furniture applications.
Q2: What role does hard‑anodized aluminum play?
It provides a durable, low‑maintenance running surface and blends visually with modern furniture designs.
Q3: Which drylin rail was used for long travel in the coffee table?
The project used the drylin NT 35 aluminum telescopic rail for its long‑travel capability and anodized finish.
What’s next?
Explore drylin linear guides and telescopic rails for your next furniture build, or request support from a technical specialist to specify a grease‑free solution.
