How do the linear slides stack up?

[jsage]

Brands, profiles, mechanics?

[svenakela]

Sorry Jsage, but your question is unclear. Could you clarify what you're looking for?

Regards,
Sven

[jsage]

My question is specific but difficult to pose. What I'm saying is there are a lot of flavors: slide profiles (shapes), manufacturers, home grown variations. How do they compare to each other, strengths and weakness, cost performance trade-offs, applications. More generalized than part specific.

Ideally I would say for the average CNC application (probably is none) how would you rank the difference manufacturers offerings, homegrown variations on standard criteria like precision/tolerances, backlash, friction, high speed capability, resolution, ability to minimize factors that many of the DIY machines seek to avoid. Left it vague because when you ask it like this it feels like a homework assignment

[JerryFlyGuy]

Jsage, I think your going to be dissapointed by the number of replies. If your more specific people will take a stab at it, currently we don't know even what type of rails are you talking about. DIY/roller blade-bearing rails?THK style linear rails? Thompson shaft rails, 85#/ft rails? HO scale train rails? [Tried those, but for cnc the load ratings just didn't cut it ]

Jerry [kinda like asking "How do them tires stack up?" ]

[svenakela]

Well, lets put it this way then:
For most of the hobby applications the home made guides are enough. I've seen home grown linear slides made of grinded standard steel 3D-profiling steel molds.
The THK/INA/Thomson/Hiwin/Whatever guides can take massive loads for an extremely long time in an industry application, so for a hobbyist even the smallest guides are "over sized". But for the price they get sold at eBay and similar sites (like here at the zone) it just makes no reason to make your own if they're long enough and you're aiming for a rigid miller.

For me, I can't find reasonable priced 1800 mm (71") guides, so I'm running THK guides on the gantry but home made for the base.

All other guys, fill in!

Regards,
Sven

[jsage]

thanks svenakela,

That is basically my issue, I'm looking for 4 of 9+ft or more which would cost a small fortune. If I buy on ebay I'd like to get the best ones for me. Somehow I think I will go homegrown.

I'll buy the ballscrews of course. I'm in the design stage but I think I'll bite bullet and proceed. My design is pretty open so I don't think I can get in too much trouble. Since I'm going large 8'x4'x2+ I'm leaning toward higher end linear systems.

I have a good friend from your parts, Olofsson is probably equivalent to Smith. We used to work at Sager Electronics a number of years ago with him. Went back for Real Estate MBA.

Ok Jerry, how do those salmon stack up, or is it trout, perhaps a pike guy. Sinking line or intermediate? Got a roll cast, double haul.