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Very smooth small sliding rails.

Very smooth small sliding rails.

Very smooth small sliding rails.

(OP)

I'm not sure if there is a source to buy what I would like to use for this project.

Basically I am working on a small movable platform for my wifes sewing machine.


It would be some kind of rail so the platform would slide left and right and at the same time be able to slide fore and aft. (like how a long arm sewing machine would move)

The rails would be separate for each direction, they would just be on different levels. The left and right rails would be mounted lower than the forward backward rails.

The left-right direction would be about 120", the fore-aft direction about 12"

What I don't know, is what to technically call the rails or a source to buy them if anyone even makes them for consumer use.


Thanks for any help.


RE: Very smooth small sliding rails.

Generically you are looking for "linear guide rail".

Other searches that may be useful might be "xy linear guide" or "compound linear guide".

Essentially commodity items. Available from McMaster-Carr, Grainer, MSC, etc.

RE: Very smooth small sliding rails.

Perhaps "Drawer Slides" for the short axis. They're not all that precise. E.g.:


RE: Very smooth small sliding rails.

for the 12" direction you can probably get by with steel rods and annular bearings, as used on homebuilt 3d printers. The little rods are probably too flexible for long distance use, however.

https://reprapbook.appspot.com/#d0e148


RE: Very smooth small sliding rails.

You will have to be able to lock the rails independently if you want to be able to get straight line movements. Otherwise you can use ball transfers under a table to get free movement in any direction.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#ball-transfers/=txsd1w

RE: Very smooth small sliding rails.

he, he, he, he, he

How good do you need the finished device to me.

I work on products that require very precise XY stages that are also very stiff/vibration resistant... but that drives cost so what we use may not suit you.

We use these on some systems: http://www.astbearings.com/assets/files/IKO-Bearin...

As to potential rail configurations, maybe this will give you some ideas: http://www.aerotech.com/product-catalog/gantry-sys...



Posting guidelines FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm? (probably not aimed specifically at you)
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?

RE: Very smooth small sliding rails.

I'm gonna have to go with Drawer bearings, since this seems to be a "just slide it out of the way" project...

Now, if you're building your wife an automated x-y table to turn her sewing machine into a CNC embroidery machine, spring for the linear bearings.

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