Drawer Slide Products - Information

As the leader in providing design solutions for the furniture and cabinet industries, Knape & Vogt has built a reputation as both innovator and reliable source supplier. KV drawer slides are functional in a wide range of applications — from home/kitchen cabinetry, to office furniture and files, institutional and commercial furniture, displays, and more. With KV drawer slides, you can match customer expectations for solid, whisper-quiet operation with your own engineering demands.

Knape & Vogt continually tests drawer slides to assure conformance with performance and quality standards. KV slides meet or exceed the ANSI performance standards as established by BIFMA, KCMA, or BHMA in the KV recommended applications.

The drawer slide application charts found on pages 5 - 6 describe recommended applications and specific load ratings to assist in the selection of the slide best-suited for your application. This information is provided as a guideline only, as casegoods construction and slide applications can vary greatly.

Knape & Vogt recommends that manufacturers thoroughly test any slide in the actual application according to the recognized industry standards. KV assumes no liability for proper slide installation or fitness for any particular use, without prior product application testing.

The remaining information on these pages describe some of the many factors that may affect drawer slide selection, installation, performance, and life expectancy.

Each drawer slide model has unique performance characteristics that are determined by the intended application for which it is designed. There are many different slides available for a variety of applications; choose the slide that best fits your application.

Length. Slide length is a key factor. Typically, the longer the slide, the less load it will carry and vice versa.

Travel. Travel is the maximum extension compared to the closed length. Most slides are either 3/4 or full travel. Special extension lengths are available with modified travel.
In general, the longer the travel, the less load a slide can carry and vice versa.

•   A 3/4 travel slide has extension to approximately 75% of its length.
•   A full travel slide has extension approximately equal to its length.
•   An overtravel slide extends beyond its length.

Width. Drawer width affects the rigidity of the installation. In wide drawers, the slides will rack from side to side. Excessive racking can degrade performance and shorten slide life.

Action. The type of mechanism used to carry the load affects slide performance, motion, noise, and the “fit and feel.” KV slides use rollers, ball bearings, friction fits, or any combination in achieving movement. In general, superior action requires more rollers or ball bearings to support and distribute large loads.

Size. In addition to a slide’s load rating, the physical size of the application is a consideration. Drawers having unusual width, depth, or height especially require careful consideration to determine which slide best suits the application.

Operating Clearance. Drawer slides operate within a specified clearance (the space between the drawer and the case). The clearance must be strictly held within the specified tolerances. When the clearance is too wide or too narrow, the slide will experience additional forces and stresses that will reduce its expected performance and life.