Alternatives to Makerslide
Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 10:38 am
Short version:
Building an ORDish Bot and a Shapeoko derivative; looking for linear guide rail systems similar to Makerslide (perhaps slightly heavier duty) currently available but overwhelmed by choice and marketing hyperbole.
Long version:
So I’ve been after an ORD Bot and a Shapeoko for a while now but I’ve been unlucky enough to miss both pre orders. Since there is a great deal of uncertainty about when the next batch of either is going to become available (and even when they do become available it will be months before they ship) I decided I’m going to build my own from scratch due to urgent need of such tools.
I’ve studied the designs of both machines and they are pretty straight forward to reproduce (all the hard work has been done for me thanks to Bart and Edward ) and I’ve worked out basically every detail except the replacement system for Makerslide. There’s so many linear guide rail systems out there and I have no idea how to choose one over the other - particularly since so many company websites don’t list prices.
Ideally the linear rail system would be:
I'm part way through polishing the shopping list/BOM for mass consumption (think identical to the BOM available, but sorted by distributor, shipping estimates included and revised sources along with links to part pages) so that others can copy me if they wish, and once I have this linear rail system sorted I'll put up CAD files as well - Pseudo's Impatient-brand ORDish bot and Shapeoko!
Thanks in advance for any help
Building an ORDish Bot and a Shapeoko derivative; looking for linear guide rail systems similar to Makerslide (perhaps slightly heavier duty) currently available but overwhelmed by choice and marketing hyperbole.
Long version:
So I’ve been after an ORD Bot and a Shapeoko for a while now but I’ve been unlucky enough to miss both pre orders. Since there is a great deal of uncertainty about when the next batch of either is going to become available (and even when they do become available it will be months before they ship) I decided I’m going to build my own from scratch due to urgent need of such tools.
I’ve studied the designs of both machines and they are pretty straight forward to reproduce (all the hard work has been done for me thanks to Bart and Edward ) and I’ve worked out basically every detail except the replacement system for Makerslide. There’s so many linear guide rail systems out there and I have no idea how to choose one over the other - particularly since so many company websites don’t list prices.
Ideally the linear rail system would be:
- Cheap - I'm prepared to pay more than I would for makerslide because of time restraints, but I'd like to keep costs down
- Accurate - As accurate or more so than Makerslide
- Similar capacity - Ideally I'd like to use a slightly heavier duty system for the Shapeoko, but anything equivalent to Makerslide is acceptable
- Affordable hardware - If at all possible I'd like to avoid being shafted (pun only half intended) on all the bearings and wheels
- Available -
I'm part way through polishing the shopping list/BOM for mass consumption (think identical to the BOM available, but sorted by distributor, shipping estimates included and revised sources along with links to part pages) so that others can copy me if they wish, and once I have this linear rail system sorted I'll put up CAD files as well - Pseudo's Impatient-brand ORDish bot and Shapeoko!
Thanks in advance for any help