New slides from PM Bearings are made from composite materials that consist of a ‘matrix’ weave and a reinforcing weave of a specially developed carbon-fibre polymer that can achieve the stiffness and strength of steel but is even lighter than aluminium. They are now available from Micromech in the UK. The carbon fibre material achieves ultra-smooth motion and the pre-lubricated tables offer a maximum travel of 30,000km under normal operating conditions.