Wear resistant apparatus and method for translating a printing element relative to a frame

摘要

An apparatus and method for translating a printing element relative to a frame has a wear resistant coating on translational rod bearings which support the element, such as a scanner, for slidable movement along a frame. Titanium nitride is coated over a hardened stainless steel core of the translational rod bearings and bearing pads which are arranged for sliding contact with the translational rod bearings. The bearing pads comprise diamond laminated tungsten carbide.