Budget Rail - Low Cost, Rigid Rail System

thingiverse

Human-Made Technology Delivers Accuracy and Reliability with Budgetrail's Innovative Design Made from readily available, cost-effective parts, budgetrail system surpasses the accuracy and reliability of expensive rail systems while ensuring parts are accessible in nearly every location. Budgetrail leverages 40mm square aluminium extrusion, a choice that results in true rail movement and negligible backlash - only experienced during application of extreme lateral forces beyond the capabilities of standard printers. The 4mm adjustment screw enables fine tuning for optimal balance between smooth movement and minimal backlash. During my 3D printer design, I found conventional rail systems excessively expensive. As my delta printer stands at an impressive 2 meters tall, finding affordable T-slot rails or makerslide extrusion in the same length posed significant financial constraints. Moreover, regular rail systems tend to flex significantly over long spans. In contrast, this rail system remains rigid even over lengthy distances and performs exceptionally well. To complete budgetrail, you'll need the following components for each unit: 40mm square aluminium extrusion (1.5mm wall thickness) (A 6-meter length costs approximately $50 AUD) Ensure the corners of the Aluminium Square Tube are free from damage. For a smoother experience, I experimented with radiused corners that potentially result from reduced surface friction. 55mm M8 Bolts M8 Nuts 6x 608ZZ Skateboard bearings 9x M8 washers All parts must be printed with the large face downwards. A rod arm joint is also provided for users of this rail in delta printers. Additional components include: 1x 10mm M3 Bolt and nut 1x 40mm (approx.) M3 Bolts and Nut 1x M4 15mm Screw 1x 12mm x 3mm Round magnet or M3 Socket bolt for endstop.