Does anyone know of a good (and inexpensive) method of supporting rod type linear guides. Preferably with as little drilling in the guides as possible as I do not have easy acsess to high presision drill/mill. The guides are 25mm in diameter and they span 3 m. The gantry that will ride them is weighing ca 50kg. :confused:

I have just seen the light!
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8133 :cheers:

:withstupi

Sorry, I take that back... Jumped co conclusion before examining design... :(

Question still stands...

I haven't played around much with rod-type guides, but here's some thoughts...

If vertical deflection is the only concern, (bows under weight of machine), you could arrange some bolts as setscrews. Depending on the clearance your linear bearings have for supports, you could grind a depression in the head of the screws that has the same radius (or close) as the rod and then use two nuts on either side of a bracket to adjust the height.

Quickie sketch...

I haven't played around much with rod-type guides, but here's some thoughts...

If vertical deflection is the only concern, (bows under weight of machine), you could arrange some bolts as setscrews. Depending on the clearance your linear bearings have for supports, you could grind a depression in the head of the screws that has the same radius (or close) as the rod and then use two nuts on either side of a bracket to adjust the height.

Yes, that might work. Thanks!

This was my solution...the10 ft (3 m ) pipe-track is bolted onto a channel. So far so good..... :)

Clever, but it is a solid rod and not a pipe. But the U-beam solution might be worth examining further. God input, thanks!