New Linear Motion Option from Inventables
 

Here's a new extrusion and V-roller system that might provide a more accurate and/or cheaper linear motion system than what was available in 2015.

http://blog.inventables.com/p/makerslide.html
https://www.inventables.com/technologies/makerslide

I haven't checked to see if the Inventables part is compatible with 8020 or the REV Extrusions, but I'm sure something can be rigged up if necessary.

(I don't work for Inventables, I just saw an interesting press release)

Re: New Linear Motion Option from Inventables
 

The site recommends a load limit of < 6lb per wheel, which would have limited its use in Recycle Rush robots. Given how many teams used steel bearing rollers on 2x1 aluminum tube this year, I wonder if that load limit is overly conservative for our purposes.

Re: New Linear Motion Option from Inventables
 

Those are often used in hobby CNC routers, like the Shapeoko. The way things are set up on it I would rather use bearings on 1x1 tubing or something similar.

Re: New Linear Motion Option from Inventables
 

Looks like a quick way to capture a good linear slide in 3 dimensions using a minimal of parts. My 3D printer uses a similar setup. Maybe they're only a 6-lb load limit, but even that would be enough for something like the Simbots' most critical low-part item this year: their downward force tower (if it were shorter). To cut weight I'd mill a bit off the face of the thick pieces down the entire rail - but only if torsion wasn't an issue.

This would have also greatly saved us time in 2014 with our linear slide low power launch. We used the Igus linear slide stuff then, and man was it tough to assemble/adjust correctly so it didn't bind.

I'll have to keep this in mind for the coming year.

Re: New Linear Motion Option from Inventables
 

Makerslide is not really a new thing, just new that Inventables is carrying it. When I designed the REV extrusion, I had seen makerslide and bought some to learn from it. While it has some advantages, the two things that I didn't like about it were that the v-channel was on the outside, minimizing it's utility for anything except specific linear motion uses and the fact that it still uses T-nuts in the slot. Requiring proprietary hardware in an open source design is just silly to me.

REV extrusions are completely compatible with makerslide, but to be honest it doesn't make any sense to me since REV is about half the cost and does the same thing....


The only thing in my "completely biased opinion" that makerslide has is better strength since it is a 2x1 rectangular profile. That being said...we have some new products coming that haven't been announced yet ;)

Re: New Linear Motion Option from Inventables
 

Greg, do you post a load limit for your eccentric bearing sliders? I can't find anything in your documentation or AndyMarks? I imagine the aluminum extrusion can't take too much force before the wings start to open up, am I right?