Square bellows

rectangularPTFEcoated fabric

Overview
BSTFLEX sewn rectangular bellows are custom fabric protective covers designed to shield machine ways, linear rails, ball screws, lead screws, actuators and other moving square- or rectangular-profile components. The accordion-style construction expands and compresses with travel while minimizing ingress of dust, metal chips, coolant, oil, sparks and abrasive debris.

Custom rectangular bellows construction

• Bellows shape: Rectangular, square or custom
• Inside width: Custom
• Inside height: Custom
• Outside dimensions: Custom
• Extended length: Custom
• Compressed length: Custom
• Stroke: According to machine travel
• Fold geometry: Tailored to application
• Fabric: Selected according to environment
• Mounting configuration: Flange, plate, collar, clamp or custom
• Closure: Closed, zipper, hook-and-loop or custom
• Reinforcement: Optional
• Production: Prototype and OEM production

Material options

• Coated nylon fabric — general-purpose protection where flexibility and abrasion resistance are required
• Silicone-coated fiberglass fabric — for elevated-temperature environments and spark exposure
• PTFE-coated fiberglass fabric — for higher temperature, chemical resistance and low adhesion
• Aluminized fiberglass fabric — for radiant heat environments near furnaces or foundries
• Custom technical fabrics — evaluated to match specific operating conditions

Machine way and linear rail protection
Rectangular bellows protect exposed machine ways and linear rails from common onsite contaminants and hazards:

• Metal chips
• Grinding debris
• Dust
• Oil
• Coolant
• Sparks
• Abrasive particles

CNC and automation applications

• CNC machining centers
• Milling machines
• Linear positioning systems
• Industrial robots
• Automated assembly equipment
• Packaging machinery
• Lift mechanisms and lift tables
• Material handling equipment
• Special-purpose machines and machine tool retrofits

High temperature rectangular bellows
For equipment operating near furnaces, welding cells, foundry equipment or hot production processes, bellows can be manufactured from heat-resistant fabrics (silicone-coated fiberglass, PTFE-coated fiberglass, aluminized fiberglass, etc.). Material selection depends on continuous operating temperature, short-term heat exposure, radiant heat, spark/hot-particle exposure, oil/coolant contact, chemical exposure, abrasion and flexing frequency.

Mounting and installation options

• Rigid mounting plates
• Fabric flanges
• Reinforced end panels
• Clamp-mounted ends
• Grommets
• Hook-and-loop closures
• Zipper openings
• Custom fastening systems

Typical applications

• Machine ways
• Linear rails
• Ball screws and lead screws
• CNC axes
• Lift tables and lift mechanisms
• Linear actuators
• Automated machinery and robotic equipment
• Foundry and metalworking machinery
• Special industrial machinery

Information required for custom production

• Inside width
• Inside height
• Maximum allowable outside width and height
• Fully compressed length
• Fully extended length
• Required travel or stroke
• Mounting dimensions
• Operating temperature
• Type of contaminants or environmental exposure
• Drawing, photograph or existing sample

Technical specifications

• Brand: BSTFLEX
• Product type: Sewn rectangular fabric bellows for machine protection
• Minimum order quantity (MOQ): 1
• Customizable parameters: shape, inside width/height, outside dimensions, extended/compressed length, stroke, fold geometry, fabric, mounting arrangement, closure type, reinforcements
• Material options: coated nylon, silicone-coated fiberglass, PTFE-coated fiberglass, aluminized fiberglass, other technical fabrics
• Mounting options: flange, plate, collar, clamp, rigid plates, reinforced ends, grommets, custom fastenings
• Closure options: closed, zipper, hook-and-loop, split or custom
• Production capability: prototypes and OEM production
• Primary protections offered: dust, metal chips, abrasion, oil, coolant, sparks and heat