How do you build telescopes/forklifts?

[PAR_WIG1350]

Originally Posted by PAR_WIG1350

From personal experience, don't try extending a telescoping fishing pole (or anything really) by pushing bicycle break cable sheathing or similar cable into it between two wheels (either both driven or with one idling).

I've seen a cool rolamite-like design using a chain as a rack, in a manner similar to the metal bands in rolamite bearings, and a driven sprocket paired with an idler sprocket/roller acting like the rollers in a rolamite bearing. I don't remember where I saw it, but I do believe it was on an FRC robot (which I saw in pictures only, so it was sometime between ~'93-'08). I'm not sure how well it worked then, but by using large chain, it could be made incredibly strong.

found the picture, didn't remember it as well as I thought I did, still a cool idea: