# What are the Components of a Web Guide > There are four basic components of a web guide; the mechanism, the controller, the sensor and the actuator. This video briefly discusses these components. **Last updated:** 2026-03-03 **Source:** https://live-roll2roll.pantheonsite.io/videos/what-are-components-web-guide --- In this educational video, we delve into the fundamentals of web guiding systems, essential for the Converting Industry. We'll explore four key components of a web guide: the guide structure or mechanism, the actuator, the sensor, and the controller. Learn how each element works together in a closed loop feedback control system to ensure precise web positioning. Ideal for industry professionals seeking to enhance their understanding of advanced web handling technologies. 00:00 Introduction to Basic Web Guiding Systems 00:17 Guide Structure and Mechanism 00:34 Role of the Actuator 00:52 Importance of the Sensor 01:09 Function of the Controller 01:27 Schematic Overview of Web Guiding Components 01:56 Closed Loop Feedback Control System ## Transcript In terms of a basic web guiding system, we are mainly dealing with four main items apart from the web. One is the guide structure or mechanism. This is the device that is actually making contact with the web and that's the one that is need to be moved or it moves the web. There are different types of guide structures that we will go through. The other component of a web guiding system is an actuator. So actuator is something that takes an electrical signal and converts that into physical motion so that it moves the guide structure so that the web can be located at the desired location. The third and one of the most important components of a web guiding system is a sensor. The sensor is the device that provides the feedback. The sensor is the one that tells us where the web is inferring the position and then that signal is sent to a controller. The controller is mainly the intelligence or the brains that takes that sensor signal and computes the corrective action required. So the actuator can move the guide mechanism to the the location where we can get the desired web position. Again, another schematic of how the components of the web guides are. Web is a part of the web guiding system. And then you have the mechanism. There's an actuator inside the mechanism. The sensor gets the position feedback of where the web is, sends that information to the controller. controller then computes an error and it sends the command to the actuator so that the mechanism can be moved to position the web at the right location. This is a closed loop feedback control system that is a main part of a web guiding system. ## Related Products - SCU6x Controller - ODC Sensors - 1DC Sensors - Low Profile Web Guides - Wide Web Guides - Narrow Web Steering Guides **Tags:** web guides, web guide installation, SCU6x Controller, ODC Sensors, 1DC Sensors, Low Profile Web Guides, Wide Web Guides, Narrow Web Steering Guides --- ## About Roll-2-Roll Technologies Roll-2-Roll Technologies designs and manufactures patented fiber-optic web position sensors and advanced web guiding controllers — the precision measurement and control core of modern roll-to-roll manufacturing. Spun out of Oklahoma State University's Web Handling Research Center and trusted by Fortune 500 medical, battery, and nonwovens manufacturers, our patented sensors work without recalibration at ±0.1mm accuracy up to 760 mpm — typical customer outcomes are 50%+ less downtime and payback under six months. Headquartered in Stillwater, Oklahoma, our team of PhDs, controls engineers, and industry veterans extends the sensor + controller core into complete web guide systems including stepper-motor-based linear actuators (RLA, BLA, LHS). - Website: https://r2r.tech - Phone: +1 (888) 290-3215 - Email: sales@r2r.tech