Product · Linear motion

Gear Racks

Name: Precision Gear Racks
Brand: Wolfer

Straight and helical gear racks, ground to Class 6, machined in one piece up to 2 m (78 in).

Wolfer manufactures straight and helical gear racks for laser-cutting gantries, CNC machine X/Y axes, and large-format automation. Standard finish is induction-hardened, ground flanks (HRC 50–55). For tighter tolerances and longer travels, we splice racks at dowelled, ground joints without sacrificing pitch accuracy.

Last updated 2026-09-12 Reviewed by Luo Genwen, Production Plant Manager

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Wolfer gear rack cover · straight / helical · ground / milled · Foshan China

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Product Showcase

Click any category to open its datasheet (PDF).

Ground Straight Racks Datasheet PDF →

Ground tooth flanks for high pitch accuracy and rigidity, induction-hardened to HRC 50–55. Suited to laser-cutting gantries and CNC machine X/Y axes — high-precision, long-travel linear motion.

Ground Helical Racks Datasheet PDF →

Helical mesh with ground flanks — smooth, quiet running, high load capacity and high accuracy (generates some axial thrust). Suited to high-speed gantries and heavily loaded precision linear drives.

Milled Straight Racks Datasheet PDF →

Milled tooth form — simple and cost-effective (around Class 7). Suited to medium-precision linear motion in automation and general machinery.

Milled Helical Racks Datasheet PDF →

Milled helical teeth — smooth, quiet running at lower cost. Suited to medium-precision, higher-speed automation and conveying drives.

Precision

ISO 1328 Class 6 (ground)
One-piece length

Up to 2,000 mm
Module

m 1 – m 10
Hardness

HRC 50–55 (induction)

What we make

Gear Racks we cut from drawings.

Straight (spur) rack

m 1 – m 10 · standard for most CNC X/Y axes

Helical rack

Helix 19°31'42" (matched to standard helical pinions) · for high-speed laser gantries

Ground precision rack

Class 6 ground flank · induction-hardened HRC 50–55

Hardened-and-milled

Class 7 — economical alternative to ground racks

Joining rack

End faces dowelled and ground for splicing without pitch error

Linear gantry axes live or die by their rack. A cumulative pitch error of 0.05 mm over 2 m means the head misses its target by 0.05 mm at the far end of travel — unacceptable for laser cutting, microelectronics handling, or any vision-aligned process.

We grind every rack flank after induction hardening, so the hardened surface keeps its profile through the gear grinder, rather than locking in pre-heat-treat distortion. Splicing pads are dowelled and ground after assembly so the joint pitch matches the rest of the rack.

We supply straight racks (spur-rack profile) and helical racks — helical racks run more smoothly at high speed and carry more load per face-width, at the cost of inducing a small axial thrust the customer's bearing must absorb.

Standards

Built to international tolerance specs.

ISO 1328 (gear accuracy applied to rack)
DIN 8000 / DIN 8001
KHK-compatible mating dimensions

Inspection

Every part measured before it ships.

Gear inspection center — pitch and lead error over full length
CMM with 1,200 mm travel — flatness, parallelism, mounting-surface accuracy
Surface hardness check (Rockwell)

Applications

Where these parts go to work.

01 / 04

Laser Equipment

Gantry X/Y axes for laser cutting, marking, welding

02 / 04

Machine Tools

Large-format CNC X axes, plate shears, waterjet cutters

03 / 04

Industrial Automation

Long-stroke pick-and-place, adhesive-dispensing robots

04 / 04

Semiconductor Equipment

Wafer-handling gantries, inspection stages

FAQ

Common questions from engineers buying this product.

What is the longest one-piece rack you can grind?

Two meters in a single piece on our gear grinder. For longer travels we join racks at dowelled pads and grind the assembled face — pitch matching is to ≤ 0.03 mm across the joint.

Helical vs. straight rack — which should I use?

Helical racks run smoother at speeds above ~ 60 m/min and carry roughly 30% more load per face-width, at the cost of an axial thrust on the pinion bearings. For lower-speed positioning, a straight rack is simpler and slightly cheaper.

Can you supply a matched pinion?

Yes — we cut the pinion from the same drawing pack as the rack, so flank profile and module are guaranteed to match. The pinion ships with the rack as a set.

“We switched from an imported brand to Wolfer's high-precision gear racks. Accuracy targets were met, per-batch purchasing cost dropped 35%, and lead time went from 12 weeks to 4. Our supply chain is more secure now.”

Technical Manager Laser cutting machine manufacturer −35% batch cost Lead time 12 → 4 weeks