OVERVIEW
Polyurethane Molded Shafts & Rollers
- Offered as a standalone overmolding, or delivered complete with machined cores up to 28” in length.
- Tight tolerances and low runout achieved with precision ML6 molding process.
- Protects product and machinery surfaces from abrasion while reducing vibration and noise.
- Unmatched bond strength between ML6 polyurethane and core materials ensures long-lasting performance.
ML6 polyurethane covered shafts and rollers are engineered to provide reliable traction, support, and surface protection in a wide range of industrial, automation, and material handling applications. Polyurethane molded rollers are commonly used in drive, idler, and support applications across numerous industries. Our ML6 shafts and rollers help reduce noise, prevent surface damage, and enhance control over conveyed products.
ML6 polyurethane coated shafts and rollers are available in a wide variety of diameters, durometers, lengths, and core materials including 6061 aluminum, steel, stainless steel, and plastics.
ML6 polyurethane coated shafts are molded to exact sizes without any grinding or post-finishing required. Meridian Laboratory also supports custom requirements for durometers, dimensions, and mounting configurations. Whether you need a single part or high-volume production, our in-house manufacturing ensures excellent pricing, quick turnaround, and exceptional quality.
All ML6 polyurethane covered shafts and rollers are manufactured using Meridian Laboratory’s proprietary ML6 polyurethane, bonded directly to the core. This method prevents delamination, tear-off, and premature wear even under high-load, high-cycle conditions.
For standalone ML6 polyurethane tubing that can slide over a shaft, click here.
Meridian Laboratory’s advanced molding process delivers outstanding consistency, with total indicated runout (TIR) as low as 0.0015”, significantly tighter than industry norms.
Learn more below about how Meridian Laboratory’s ML6 polyurethane coated shafts and rollers provide unmatched durability, performance, and customization.
Advantages
Advantages of ML6 Polyurethane Covered Shafts & Rollers
Configurations
Flexible Specifications & Customizations
A wide variety of standard bore options are available for polyurethane covered shafts and rollers, with the ability to customize to your exact bore requirements for all volumes. Most center bores have a tight tolerance of +0.001/- 0.000”; tighter tolerances are available upon request.
A wide variety of standard bore options are available for polyurethane covered shafts and rollers, with the ability to customize to your exact bore requirements for all volumes. Most center bores have a tight tolerance of +0.001/- 0.000”; tighter tolerances are available upon request.
A variety of standard width offerings for polyurethane covered shafts and rollers are available with the ability to customize to your exact requirements for all volumes.
The thickness of ML6 polyurethane for shafts and rollers can be specified to meet the specific requirements of your product or application. Generally speaking, thicker urethane will support a greater load rating than a thinner layer of the same durometer.
A wide variety of SAE sizes are offered to meet your specific needs. Not all sizes are listed online – for specific requirements, reach out to us!
A wide variety of metric sizes are offered to meet your specific needs. Not all sizes are listed online – for specific requirements, reach out to us!
The surface profile shape of polyurethane covered shafts and rollers can be molded to the exact dimensional requirements of your specific needs without grinding or abrasive manufacturing techniques. This guarantees the best repeatability between parts, durability, and overall tolerances. We often mold crowned (convex or concave), ribbed, V-groove, slotted, and other shapes free of a noticeable parting line on the surface.
Meridian Laboratory molds ML6 polyurethane directly to a wide variety of metals, including but not limited to: aluminum, steel, stainless steel, titanium, brass, copper, and nickel. The bond strength between ML6 polyurethane and the metal core material is extremely strong and resists tear-off and delamination.
Meridian Laboratory molds ML6 polyurethane directly to a wide variety of plastics, including but not limited to: Nylon, polycarbonate, PEEK, acetal, and ABS. Meridian Laboratory can mold efficiently to a variety of 3D printed plastics as well. The bond strength between ML6 polyurethane and the plastic core material is extremely strong and resists tear-off and delamination.
As an additional value-add, Meridian Laboratory offers the ability to lasermark parts with customer names, part numbers, QR codes, and other unique identification features. We also have the ability to color code to specific durometers for easy identification between similar parts.
Our standard colors for polyurethane molded shafts and rollers include yellow, blue, orange, black, red, white, green, clear, and purple. For our standard polyurethane covered shafts and rollers offerings, these colors are correlated to a specific durometer for simple identification of different parts. However, Meridian Laboratory also offers the ability to deliver any custom polyurethane colors to your specific preference in all volumes.
For food sensitive applications, Meridian Laboratory can provide FDA-Compliant polyurethane covered shafts and rollers. We offer FDA Dry-approved formulations for applications that involve direct contact with dry foods or that will be in the vicinity of the product, such as its packaging. We also offer more stringent FDA Wet-approved formulas for applications that are in direct contact with wet/fatty foods or that will be exposed to heavy moisture and washdown. In addition to the FDA approved polyurethane formulas, we can also make the other components that require overmolding using stainless steel components, FDA approved bearings, etc. in order to deliver complete FDA compliant parts.
The hardness of any soft material such as rubber, plastic, polyurethane, or non-metallic material is measured in durometer, which is similar to how metals are measured on the Rockwell scale. There are various scales used to measure the durometer to encompass the wide range of hardness that these materials come in.
The Shore A hardness scale is the most commonly used scale in production and manufacturing applications due to its wide range and versatility of uses within the scale. The Shore A scale can range from parts that are flexible and soft in nature (0-40A), to semi-flexible and medium-hard (50-80A), to hard and rigid (90-100A). Meridian Laboratory operates primarily in the Shore A scale and offers 40A, 55A, 70A, 80A, 90A in durometer choices, but is not limited to these durometers.
The hardest scale in plastic, rubber, and polyurethane measurement is Shore D. Shore D can most commonly be associated with hard rubbers and plastics. Meridian Laboratory offers precision molded polyurethane parts in the Shore D scale up to 75D, being very hard and rigid.
Anti-static polyurethane covered shafts and rollers are offered to reduce the amount of static build-up over time.
Unlike many other standard and custom polyurethane coated shaft and roller manufacturers, Meridian Laboratory is the proprietary developer of our specially blended ML6 polyurethane. ML6 polyurethane is specifically designed for use in industrial, manufacturing, and other environments where precision, durability, and quality are critical. Meridian Laboratory utilizes the highest quality raw materials to ensure that the best end products are produced. We can fine tune our exclusive recipes of ML6 polyurethane to meet the exact needs for your application.
For wet, washdown, or high moisture environments where polyurethane covered shafts & rollers are used, Meridian Laboratory offers unique polyurethane formulas to ensure the consistency and performance of the polyurethane is maintained.
Meridian Laboratory offers polyurethane bonded shafts and rollers with dual durometers. Drive belts and wheels would be a good example where a more rigid durometer is used on the inner diameter for mounting, and a softer durometer is used on the outside diameter to add friction to drive materials. The bond strength between the two durometers remains strong and without any compromise.
The standard finish of ML6 polyurethane covered drive shafts and rollers features a smooth, blemish-free, and high-grip surface on all molded portions of the part. This surface finish maximizes friction / grip while minimizing wear. Contrary to conventional belief, this finish provides the maximum amount of traction – similar to the way a racing slick provides the maximum traction with the asphalt surface it comes in contact with.
A matte surface finish can be specified for parts where friction / grip is not desired, or for applications with light materials like plastic films, which could potentially stick to a tacky surface. A matte finish will still provide the friction drive benefits which ML6 polyurethane is known for, while allowing light parts to be released from the contact surface.
Cost Effective Customization
Custom Molded Polyurethane – From Prototype to Production
Meridian Laboratory’s proven process for manufacturing custom Polyurethane Coated Shafts & Rollers makes it easy and efficient to specify, order, and scale your polyurethane needs, no matter the volume.
Our unique manufacturing method is engineered for flexibility, allowing customers to go from prototype to full-scale production without costly tooling, long lead times, or complex ordering processes.
Why Engineers and Buyers Prefer Meridian Laboratory:
- Fast and Simple Quotation Process
Submit your dimensions, durometer, and application requirements, we work with you to ask the right questions, answer yours, and provide a solution. - Low Minimums, High Flexibility
Ideal for both one-off prototypes and full production runs without changing your process or supplier. - No or Low Setup Fees
Our streamlined approach eliminates traditional barriers like expensive molds or long production setups. - Scalable Without Disruption
As your demand grows, our polyurethane manufacturing process seamlessly scales with you, no re-engineering required.
Whether you’re prototyping a new design or ramping up to high-volume production, Meridian Laboratory makes custom polyurethane manufacturing simple, fast, and reliable.
FAQs
Common Polyurethane Covered Shafts & Roller Questions
What is the largest length or diameter of part you can produce?
We can mold ML6® polyurethane onto parts up to 18 inches in diameter and approximately 28” in length. Contact us with your specific dimensions and we’ll confirm feasibility based on tooling and equipment.
Does the smooth finish affect grip or traction?
Not at all, in fact, the smooth, non-ground finish of ML6® often improves performance. Think of it like racing tires in Formula 1 or NASCAR: slick tires provide maximum surface contact for superior grip on smooth tracks. Similarly, ML6®’s non-porous surface maximizes contact area and traction, while also resisting debris buildup better than rough or ground rollers. The result is consistent, long-lasting friction without the downsides of exposed or porous surfaces. Contact Us to learn more about our ML6 polyurethane.
Do you have existing tooling that can be utilized for my parts?
Yes, we maintain an extensive library of existing molds and tooling. If your part closely matches an existing size or geometry, we may be able to use or adapt our current tooling to reduce both cost and lead time. Contact us to learn more!
What makes ML6® polyurethane different from other polyurethanes and materials?
ML6® is unique in that it can hold very tight tolerances without grinding or post-cure finishing. This leaves a perfect surface finish that has a better coefficient of friction, and is impervious to contamination since the cell structure is not opened through grinding or machining. This results in a better performing and longer lasting part. More information regarding the advantages of ML6 can be found here.
How strong is the bond between the core material and polyurethane?
ML6® polyurethane is chemically bonded to core materials using a proprietary process that provides a bond stronger than the polyurethane itself. Unlike some competitors who use press-fit or glued-on coatings, our processing method ensures maximum durability and prevents delamination, even under high loads or extreme dynamic conditions. Contact us to learn more!
Can you manufacture custom-molded polyurethane parts to spec?
Yes, we specialize in custom-molded polyurethane parts, from single prototypes to full production runs. Our flexible process allows us to deliver parts quickly and cost-effectively, even in single piece quantities. Once we have manufactured any part once, it can be made any number of times, in any quantity, with cost-effective and repeatable results.
APPLICATIONS & USES
Common Uses for Polyurethane Covered Shafts & Rollers
ML6 polyurethane covered wheels and rollers are heavily used on precision centerless grinding equipment to feed and support metal bars and tubing during machining operations.
ML6 FDA-compliant polyurethane overmolded rollers and shafts are used to extract edible gummies from the molds they are made within.
ML6 polyurethane covered bearings and shafts are used for material handling equipment to convey raw materials and packaged goods.
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