What is the smallest linear slide with trucks?

[widgitmaster]

Question?

What is the smallest linear slide with trucks available that allow the trucks to be removed without loosing all the little balls?

I would like to build a mini-router which has high precision slides and ball screws, but don't want the aggravation of trying to reload ball bearings into slides!

Does anyone have a manufacturer or model numbers I can search for?

WidgitMaster

[beege]

Here's one:

http://www.linearmotion.skf.com/docu...&lang=en&cou=0

Download the PDF?

[Al_The_Man]

Try the Misumi catalogue, their Linear guides start with miniature versions, the blocks start at 12mm width!
Al.

[BillTodd]

Hiwin list 7mm high MGN (narrow) and MGW (wide) rails

Their carriages have a wire to hold the balls in place when removed (which is a bit hit'n'miss on my MGW15 trucks, but is OK if you're careful)

http:\\www.hiwin.de

[LeeWay]

How about these? http://cgi.ebay.com/2-IKO-Linear-Bea...#ht_992wt_1084

[widgitmaster]

Excellent!
Now that I know they exist, I will try to locate a bunch at a good price!

McMaster-Carr also has micro-mini linear slides, but no info as to the condition of the blocks when separated from the rails! I will give them a call in the morning!

Widgit

[widgitmaster]

Ok, I've done my homework!

But I think I have a severe case of "Sticker Shock"

For a long time now I have been wanting to build a super deluxe router using Linear Rails & Trucks, and Ball Screws! So I have shopped around for several days, making numerous phone calls! Here is what I have discovered!

The Router will be made of 6061 aluminum, with a maximum X-Axis travel of 15.5" (393.7mm), Y-Axis travel of 15.7" (398.78mm) and a Z-Axis travel of 6.0" (152.4mm)

The Linear trucks can be removed from the rails without loosing the balls, but the Preloaded Ball Nuts can not be removed!

The only question I have is, who would buy such a precision machine if I built it?

Anyone interested in a high precision router like this?
Widgit

Oh yea, the price on the spreadsheet does NOT include my time and labor to machine the aluminum parts, just the raw materials!

[tmbg]

the price of precision linear motion hardware is just way too high for this kind of work, unfortunately.

I just finished building a 9.75x8.5x3.5" travel 12x12 table router that I designed blatantly copying your work. The next similar machine I build I'd also like to do ballscrews and truck/rail slides, but it'll be using whatever materials I can get off ebay. It's just not cost effective to pay $2000 for just the linear motion on a machine like this

[widgitmaster]

I agree with you 100%!
My idea was to build a router with standard shelf items, but thats not going to happen! I'll just have to find another project to keep me busy

Widgit

[tmbg]

well I have a half dozen projects to keep me busy! Now that I have my desktop router done, I want to design a pulley driven spindle for it with auto drawbar, and give the little guy an ATC.