Rack and Pinion Drive / Gear Reduction

[captainkirk]

Looking for sources for rack and pinion drive components for a 4' x 4' CNC router / plasma cutter I am designing.

Also looking for info / suppliers for gear reduction drives to drive the pinion with. Timing belts and pulleys, planetary drives etc.

Looking to keep everything cost effective.

All advice is greatly appreciated and welcome.

Kirk

[rustamd]

www.stdsteel.com/gear.htm for cheap gear rack
www.econobelt.com for timing belt, timing pullies and spur gears.

Also check out
www.sdp-si.com
www.google.com
and www.cnczone.com/forums/search.php

[ejserv]

How about using roller chain and a small sproket? Weld or otherwise attxch the roller chain to a flat bar or part of your frame and drive it with a small gear.
Ed

[captainkirk]

Yes, I have herd of some people doing that. From what I can tell the 2 best approaches are either rack and pinion or using a belt drive. The belt drive is usually prefered because of maintanence and backlash over the chain drive.

Kirk

[Gear head]

You can avoid some backlash by going with a helical rack and pinion set up.

For Heliacal gears and gear racks try www.mooregear.com
standard gear racks kept in stock

[pointcloud]

Buy it from the MAKERS?
http://www.atlantadrives.com/