Poor mans XY table rails - would something like this be viable?

[HankMcSpank]

I'm forever trying to come up with ideas for cheap parts, I can source these quite cheaply....



I was thinking certainly for the Z axis it should be ok (obviously removing the handle/arm & also stripping the rods & support from the base), but what about two for the X axis & two for the Y axis?

I seek a cheap desktop CNC with a movement of about 12" in the X & Y axis.

I guess it depends on how much 'play' they have (can't say - not seen one in the flesh), but I could possibly negate this by use of a custom arm with a roller skate bearing on it to press up against the rail.

[ger21]

If they have any play in them, they'll probably bind, and you'll probably find that they flex quite a bit when used on a machine.

[HankMcSpank]

So how about a leg (with a roller skate bearing at the foot) attached underneath the middle section....this should help eliminate flexing & therefore binding?

[budP]

One of the most important parts of one of these machines are the rails that the axis rides on, this is not a part to cheap out on. If they flex the machine will not work to any kind of accuracy.

budP