pic: Linear bearing rails: the Cheesy RAWC way

[billbo911]

Originally Posted by Cory

This is the 2007 robot, by the way. The only difference is aesthetically the bearing mounts on the 2008 are prettier, and the 07 doesn't have the bearings at the top like the 08. To help with racking side to side in 07 we used teflon pads on the inside of the 1x2 uprights. For 2008 we added the bearings and removed the teflon.

As usual, while doing my cardiovascular workout today I had a brain flash. Suddenly I realized what everyone had been saying and it all made sense. A cross member at the top of the slide is what prevents the rails from pulling apart. I was viewing the CAD drawing and not realizing it was rotated 90°.

Cory, thanks for the pictures. They're a little fuzzy but they confirm what I finally realized.
I'm glad that you mentioned you were using Teflon as a glide surface. In some situations it makes perfect sense, this being one of them. It is also much easier to manufacture a Teflon glide that fits properly then it is to manufacture a bearing mount without access to a decent mill.