linear slide, xy table

For building small plotters, cnc mills, PCB mills or 3D printers I made this low cost, simple to make, universal, modular linear slide. It uses widely available parts and parts reclaimed from old ink-jet printers.

The design is made in sketchup and with the STL export extension the STLs are generated. All STLs are checked and can be printed without support.

The slider can be build in several variations:

• A low friction version using LM8UU bearings (not tested myself)
• A version using brass bushes (10/8mm, 20mm long) for higher loads and applications with fine dust.
• A stepper driven slide with or without a hand wheel.

The length of the linear slide can be varied. However it is advised not to make them much longer than around 25cm. This will result in a 16 cm travel for the slide. For the base a good quality 9 or 10mm exterior grade plywood with a width of 80mm will do. This will keep the slide as low profile as possible. A drill and cut template for the plywood is provided also. The plywood can be screwed to the parts using M3 screws.

Some of the holes need to be reamed with a drill for accurate fitting of the smooth rod and bushes.

Material used:

• 8 mm smooth rod
• M8 threaded rod
• 1x Nema 17 stepper motor and 4x 20mm M3
• 1x motor coupling to M8 threaded rod diameter 12mm
• 1x M8 nut for the slide
• 4x LM8UU or 10/8 brass bushes 20mm long
• 1x 608ZZ bearings
• 1x M3 30mm screw, M3 nut and 2x M8 nut for the hand wheel
• 4x M3 screw 15mm