Webex Dead Shaft Aluminum Idlers are some of the most versatile and hardworking idlers on the market today. Weighing nearly half as much as comparable steel rollers, aluminum idlers provide exceptional performance across a broad range of applications. This reduced weight makes them ideal for applications requiring lower web tension and minimal wrap.

Standard Dead Shaft Aluminum Idler Advantages:

• Lower inertia than comparable steel idlers
• Low friction bearings
• Require less horsepower to drive
• Ideal for lower web tensions
• More corrosion resistant than steel
• Readily modified with custom coatings and surface treatments
• An excellent value
• Most widely applied and most versatile idler roll available

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When you need an idler lighter than the standard aluminum models, but stronger than an UltraLight, take a look at Webex LightWeight Aluminum Idlers. LightWeights offer you the same precision construction and design detail as our standard aluminum idlers but with half the wall thickness and half the roll weight. Breakaway torque is less and roll inertia is lowered. All this gives you a high performance roll ideal for low-tension applications. In all other ways, Webex LightWeights are directly comparable to our standard aluminum idlers. Both have the same low friction internal bearings and offer similar shaft sizes. Both are precision balanced for maximum performance over a wide range of speeds.

LightWeight Aluminum Idler Advantages:

• Ideal for low inertia low tension applications
• Low friction bearings
• Require less horsepower to drive
• Reduced web slippage
• Better tension control
• Greater sensitivity in load-cell applications
• Readily modified with custom coatings and surface treatments
• An excellent value
• Ultra low friction, oil lubricated bearings optional

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Much lighter than Standard Aluminum Idlers ... even lighter than our LightWeight Aluminum Idlers ... Webex UltraLights are the ultimate in low-weight, high-performance aluminum idlers. Thanks to precision engineering and machining, the Webex UltraLight offers breakaway torques as low as 0.2 oz.-in. This low-inertia idler is ideal for low-wrap, low-tension applications — in particular, wherever web slippage is unacceptable. UltraLights weight as much as 60% less than Standard Aluminum idlers — 25% less than Webex LightWeights. Each UltraLight is made entirely of aluminum except for bearings and shafts.

UltraLight Advantages:

• Low break-away torques ideal for low-wrap, low-tension applications
• Double bearings at each end keep stub-shafts true to roll
• Small diameter bearings for free running performance
• Dynamically balanced for high speeds

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Dead shaft steel idlers have been a Webex standard ever since we started making idlers over 20 years ago. No other idler has been more field-tested. Today, Webex steel idlers represent the industry standard for precision and high performance. Dead shaft steel idlers have been popular for a number of reasons. They have the strength to withstand substantial loading from nips or web tension. They also perform well in elevated temperatures up to 350° F; the DOM tubing of our steel idlers resists nicks and deformation. For economy, strength, and high performance, nothing beats a Webex standard dead shaft steel idler.

Standard Dead Shaft Steel Idler Advantages:

• Economical
• Easy to install
• High strength
• Resists nicks and deformation
• Dynamically balanced up to 2,000 FPM
• Readily modified with custom coatings and surface treatments
• Special low-friction bearings installed
• Ultra low-friction, oil-lubricated bearings optional
• Repeat performance, roll to roll and order to order

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Webex standard stainless steel idlers are ideal for use in aggressive environments where corrosive or abrasive elements can damage normal steel idlers. These Corrosion Resistant (CR) idlers are also specified frequently for clean room, food grade and medical applications, or wherever high moisture conditions exist. Stainless Steel Idlers employ the same high-performance alloy steel bearings used in our Standard Steel Idlers. Consult the Webex customer support team for special bearing needs, including clean room bearing shields. Like steel rolls, Stainless Steel Idlers also have the strength to withstand substantial loading from nips or web tension. They perform well in elevated temperatures up to 350° F. For greater wear-resistance, Stainless Steel Idlers can be readily plasma coated or nickel or chrome plated. To ensure maximum performance over a wide range of conditions, Webex Stainless Steel Dead Shaft Idlers are constructed with 304 stainless steel. Stainless steel shafts can be specified using the Shafts and Mounts section of the Webex Idler Master Catalog. For more aggressive environments, other stainless steel grades are available.

Standard Stainless Steel Dead Shaft Idler Advantages:

• Corrosion resistant
• Easy to install
• High strength
• Readily modified with custom coatings and surface treatments
• Special low-friction bearings installed
• Ultra low-friction, oil-lubricated bearings optional
• "Anti-contaminant" bearing shield options

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Webex Carbon Composite Idlers are unmatched for their combined qualities of strength and low weight. Best of all, you can specify them now as a Webex standard - saving you the expense of a custom carbon composite idler. Here's an idler that's only a third of the weight of a comparable standard aluminum idler — but with 1.2 to 3.0 times the load bearing capacity. These high performance idlers use carbon fiber composite tubing for the roll shell. A special steel stub-shaft and lightweight aluminum headers keep total roll weight to a minimum. There remarkable idlers are ideal for running wider, lighter weight webs at higher critical speeds. Inertia ratings are the lowest of any roller on the market.

Carbon Fiber Composite Idler Advantages:

• High strength and low weight
• Runs wider webs at higher critical speeds
• Higher load capacity than comparable aluminum idlers
• Lowest inertia ratings of any idler
• Non-corrosive
• Superior tension control

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Application Advantage

Live Shaft Steel Idlers are often ideal whenever the web or the environment challenges roll integrity or performance. Here are a few examples of such challenges:

• High Loads — Self-aligning pillow blocks and flange bearings used to mount live shaft idlers are capable of handling higher loads than comparable dead shaft idlers using rigid bearings.
• Elevated Temperature — (Any idler intended for use in elevated temperatures must have proper venting to avoid explosion. Be sure you identify such applications upon ordering.) Webex Live Shaft Steel Idlers can handle substantially elevated temperatures with proper venting. This makes Live Shafts ideal in ovens where an elevated temperature or solvent atmosphere would quickly destroy dead shaft roll bearings.
• Harsh Environments — By positioning the roller bearings out of the immediate web path, exposure to process contaminates is minimized. That's why Live Shaft rolls are often ideal in applications where chemicals, dust or vapors commonly destroy dead shaft roll bearings.

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Webex Standard Stainless Steel Idlers are ideal for use in aggressive environments where corrosive or abrasive elements can damage normal steel idlers. These Corrosion Resistant (CR) idlers are also specified frequently for clean room, food grade and medical applications, or wherever high moisture conditions exist. Like steel rolls, Stainless Steel Idlers also have the strength to withstand substantial loading from nips or web tension. They perform well in elevated temperatures. For greater wear-resistance, Stainless Steel Idlers can be readily plasma coated or nickel or chrome plated. To ensure maximum performance over a wide range of conditions, Webex Stainless Steel Live Shaft Idlers are constructed with 304 stainless steel. For more aggressive environments, other stainless steel grades are available.

Application Advantages

Live Shaft Stainless Steel Idlers are often ideal whenever the web or the environment challenges roll integrity or performance. Here are a few examples of such challenges:

• Highly Corrosive Environments — High moisture environments can rust and corrode steel idlers. Webs made of PVC materials can form hydrochloric acid. Certain processes require the use of caustic solutions. All these can damage steel and impact the performance of standard steel idlers.
• Elevated Temperature — (Any idler intended for use in elevated temperatures must have proper venting to avoid explosion. Be sure you identify such applications upon ordering.) Webex Live Shaft Stainless Steel Idlers can handle substantially elevated temperatures with proper venting. This makes Live Shafts ideal in ovens where an elevated temperature or solvent atmosphere would quickly destroy dead shaft roll bearings.
• Harsh Environments — By positioning the roller bearings out of the immediate web path, exposure to process contaminates is minimized. That's why Live Shaft rolls are often ideal in applications where chemicals, dust or vapors commonly destroy dead shaft roll bearings.

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When a steel live shaft idler isn't light enough, consider aluminum. Nominal diameters of 3", 4", 5" and 6" are available with face lengths available as needed. Wall thicknesses are already specified to fit a wide range of applications. You determine the journal configuration, roll diameter and face length needed to meet your application. Live Shaft Aluminum Idlers are often ideal when a lightweight roll is needed and the web or the environment challenges roll integrity or performance.

Application Advantages

• High Loads — Self-aligning pillow blocks and flange bearings used to mount live shaft idlers are capable of handling higher loads than comparable dead shaft idlers using rigid bearings.
• Elevated Temperature — (Any idler intended for use in elevated temperatures must have proper venting to avoid explosion. Be sure you identify such applications upon ordering.) Webex Aluminum Live Shaft Idlers can handle substantially elevated temperatures with proper venting. This makes Live Shafts ideal in ovens where an elevated temperature or solvent atmosphere would quickly destroy dead shaft roll bearings.
• Harsh Environments — By positioning the roller bearings out of the immediate web path, exposure to process contaminates is minimized. That's why Live Shaft rolls are often ideal in applications where chemicals, dust or vapors commonly destroy dead shaft roll bearings.

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