Actobotics Rack and Pinion Linear Slide, In-Channel, 32 pitch

thingiverse

Actobotics offers a robust building platform with numerous impressive features. However, one notable absence is a rack and pinion linear slide mechanism that operates within a channel, allowing a single full-sized channel to glide effortlessly past another one, much like the ingenious mechanism found in the Tetrix platform. This innovative design provides such a cutting-edge mechanism. Actobotics boasts an extensive collection of high-quality 32 pitch pinion gears, making this a 3D printable rack perfectly suited to mate with a chosen Actobotics pinion gear plus sliders to securely hold the channel in place. The width of the rack is directly dependent on the width of the selected pinion gear, so it's essential to print the corresponding rack for the specific pinion gear you intend to use. STL files are provided for racks that seamlessly mate with 20-tooth and 24-tooth pinion gears. Each rack measures a generous 3 inches in length, making them ideal for various applications. Moreover, multiple racks can be used in series to create extended lengths of 6 inches, 9 inches, 12 inches, and so on. After rigorous testing with a 20-tooth pinion gear at an impressive 9-inch length, the mechanism operates smoothly and flawlessly. While Actobotics does offer a fixed-length linear slide gear rack for beams, this option might be more suitable if your requirements are met by a static solution. However, if you need to create full-sized channels that can glide past each other, this 3D-printable option could be the perfect solution for your project needs.