Macro slider, Linear table

thingiverse

I needed a precise linear table/macro slider, and I almost purchased one until I realized that designing and creating my own would be far more enjoyable than buying one. Perhaps not significantly cheaper, but it would certainly add an extra layer of satisfaction to the project! The design itself is surprisingly simple with only a few key components required (please refer to the complete Bill Of Materials listed under instructions). I wanted parts that were easy to obtain and reasonably priced, so I went with affordable China bearings/rails and regular threaded rod paired with economical el cheapo nuts and screws - all sourced from eBay. This DIY solution delivers 45mm of travel per turn and a resolution of approximately 0.8mm with each rotation of the knob. You can even increase precision by using a finer threaded rod if desired, although I feel that 0.8mm/turn provides more than sufficient resolution for most purposes. As expected, printing these parts yields quite satisfying results on my machine; however, minor adjustments might be needed to perfectly fit the cover into place. Both the carriage and thread cover are designed to be printed upright but can be orientated as you see fit - it's your call! **Instructions** 1. 3D-printed Front Linear Rail Mount 2. 3D-printed Rear Linear Rail Mount 3. 3D-printed Linear Carriage 4. 3D-printed Base Plate 5. 3D-printed Threaded Rod Cover 6. 3D-printed Knob/Wheel 7. 3D-printed Crank 8. 2 x 8mm rod/rail (125-128mm long) 9. 4 x LM8U linear bearings (or similar IGUS or printed linear bearings) 10. 2 x 5x10x4mm bearings 11. M5 threaded rod (145'ish mm long) 12. 2 x M5 nuts 13. 2 x M5 lock nuts 14. 5 x M3 nuts 15. 4 x M3 lock nuts 16. 4 x 3x7mm washers 17. 4 x M3x12 Hex socket cap Allen screws/bolts 18. 5 x M3x20 Hex socket cap Allen screws/bolts 19. 2 x M3x3 set grub screw 20. 1 x M3x8 set grub screw 21. 1 x 1/4-20 screw minimum 13mm long (1/2”) 22. 2 x 3/8 to 1/4 adapter (tripod mount) Visit eBay for details: http://www.ebay.com/itm/131268862995?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2648&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT