Makerslide anyone?

[Northernlight]

Hi guys.
I am currently waiting for a 6 meter lo g extrusion of makerslide.

Basically it's an extrusion made for linear movement and I would imagine that you guys could come up with a lot of uses for it.

I will draw some things up during the weekend and post in this thread but is anyone else having any ideas?

The strength is IMO that the carriages and everything is already setup

 

[Sean KS]

Multi router

 

[Sean KS]

Any update on your application. I'm really excited about the price and capabilities of this product.

 

[rmwarren]

Take a look at V-Slot. It was kind of a spin off from the original MakerSlide campaign, different innovator who took the v-rail concept and really expanded it. This is the same husband/wife team (Mark/Trish Carew) who developed the Phlatboyz stuff (http://phlatforum.com/xenforo/), originally for RC airplanes but they really expanded over time. They did at least 2 Kickstarter projects, one being the V-Slot extrusion.

Check out: http://openbuildspartstore.com/v-slot-20-x-20mm/ to see the V-Slot parts; and http://www.openbuilds.com/builds/openbuilds-ox-cnc-machine.341/ for a great thread on building a CNC router with the parts.

Brilliant idea to incorporate the linear V rails into the slot on the extrusion itself. They basically moved from an outward facing linear V-rail to an inverted linear V-slot, standardized everything on 20mm increments, and developed an entire line of components for modular construction. You can just about building the entire CNC router with nothing but hand tools, aside from cutting the extrusions to length. What impressed me the most is how well the parts complement each other, really modular and well thought out.

They also (I believe) developed the SketchUcam Sketchup plugin for creating G-Code directly from a Sketchup design: http://phlatforum.com/xenforo/resources/sketchucam.1/. This couple/team really embody the open-source maker spirit.

RMW  

EDIT: Here's their early video introducing V-Slot, the parts have been improved since then:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=584Z47gTBRY

 

[wow]

So how does V-slot differ from 80/20? I'd never heard of them before now...

 

[jafenske]

Here is a screen shot of the makerslide profile. I made a small desktop CNC with it and it works pretty well. I also have a 3D printer in the works with makerslide.  

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You can find more information about it here, https://www.inventables.com/technologies/makerslide.

 

[rmwarren]

So how does V-slot differ from 80/20? I'd never heard of them before now...

It's a specialty extrusion for linear rails. 20mm profiles only and the edges of the slots are beveled @ 45 degrees for the wheels to run in.

MakerSlide does the same thing i.e. incorporate the linear rails into the structural extrusion. As the photo jafenske posted shows it has 2 v-rails on one edge, in lieu of every slot being a potential linear rail. I have MakerSlide as well, good stuff but not as flexible at the V-Slot, IMHO.

I have been toying with using it for a router guide along one access, with a single stepper motor and a custom control. Something like "plunge router/release - push button/router moves 32mm - plunge router/release"... nothing unnecessarily like overcomplicating things...  [big grin]

RMW

RMW

 

[Themistocles]

Would there be any downside to using these extrusions for an mft sysport build? (Compared to 80 20 extrusions say). Any advantages?

 

[Sean KS]

They're hard to come by, long wait times and only come in one size. Unless your planning on using a vgrove bearing on your mft there is no need for this highly specialized extrusion. Used as the rails on an mft there could be some clamping possibilities using the V.

 

[Themistocles]

Many thanks, insight much appreciated.

 

[Lucky Dave]

"Used as the rails on an mft there could be some clamping possibilities using the V."

Sean KS, would you care to expand on your thoughts. Sounds interesting.

"I have been toying with using it for a router guide along one access, with a single stepper motor and a custom control. Something like "plunge router/release - push button/router moves 32mm - plunge router/release"... nothing unnecessarily like overcomplicating things..."

Richard, What a creative thinker you are. Care to elaborate a bit.  I learn so much from you and Sean.

Dave

 

[Sean KS]

Might be a case of the the seeing following the blind when you say the likes of me and Richard are good to learn from. The clamping application would use the 45 on the rail. If you had a bracket with a parallel 45 you could "push" againts the rail's v and clamp in place. I'm really just thinking for attaching brackets not for workpieces. The MFT accessories work the same way, the v is just impressed rather than jutting. I picture a push pull toggle clamp. The only real advantage is that you could "clip" a bracket on rather than having to slide it into the t slots.  Hope that made a bit of sense.

 

[rmwarren]

"Used as the rails on an mft there could be some clamping possibilities using the V."

Sean KS, would you care to expand on your thoughts. Sounds interesting.

"I have been toying with using it for a router guide along one access, with a single stepper motor and a custom control. Something like "plunge router/release - push button/router moves 32mm - plunge router/release"... nothing unnecessarily like overcomplicating things..."

Richard, What a creative thinker you are. Care to elaborate a bit.  I learn so much from you and Sean.

Dave

That was kinda tongue-in-cheek... basically acknowledging my talent for overcomplicating stuff.  [doh]

With MakeSlide or V-Slot you can easily make a single axis linear guide with a mounting plate, wheels and a belt. Add a single stepper at one end, controlled with an Arduino or other type of microcontroller board, LED display/keypad. Rig up an attachment for a router to the plate/wheels. Write a custom program. Use the keypad to program the distance the router moves each time you hit the Enter key. Plunge the router by hand. Or you could just use the LR32...

I feel the need to go stand in the shop, stare at my tools, and see what other unnecessary gadgets I can dream up.

RMW

 

[Kev]

So Arnie is made from V-Slot ?? [eek] [big grin]

I'd love to see a fabricated 32mm automation system ... that'd be so cool.