Parallel guides for a slider (in this case a Hammer C3-31)

[hdv]

I have wanted a set of parallel guides for my slider for some time now. Lamb Tool Works make a high quality set, but I just can't get myself to spend 2x $600 on them. Everything I read tells me they are worth their money. But $1200 is a lot of money. So, I tried to make an El Cheapo alternative myself. Most of the time was spent on finding the appropriate parts. But once I found them, there rest was actually quite easy.

I used an EU version of 2020 series aluminium profile (bought it from a German company called Motedis). The trick was finding good linear sliding elements. The other trick was finding out that a sliding T-nut with M10 thread fit perfectly in the slot of the slider. The rest was straightforward cutting, drilling, and assembly work.

Here are some photo's of the result. I aimed for a capacity of 400 mm, but that was just an arbitrary choice.

The guide fitted onto the slider:
[attachimg=1]

An end cap on the profile protects the teeth on the sawblade and the workpieces.
[attachimg=2]

As short piece of 4020 and a T-nut are used to anchor the guide to the side of the slider.
[attachimg=3]

A self-adhesive scale was glued to the top profile (this one has no slot on the top side). A bridge was made such that a small piece of aluminium could be used as a measuring mark. It is close enough to the scale that there is no noticeable parallax effect.
[attachimg=4]

These were the sliding elements used to fit the fixed part and the actual parallel guide to each other. Each guide uses 2 of them for stability.
[attachimg=5]

A lever is used to lock the upper profile in position. In this photo you can clearly see one of the gliders between the profiles.
[attachimg=6]

To prevent sagging I used both an internal angle fixture and an external plate. This actually does provide sufficient support. Well, not if you were to really lean on it, or if you were to put a very heavy workpiece on it. But if some care is taken it will not sag and it will be good enough for most jobs.
[attachimg=7]

I hope you enjoyed this build! No wood was hurt this time and it was nice to use 8020 for something else than benches or things like that. 

P.S. If anyone is interested I can provide more details about this build.

 

[MikeGE]

Nice solution!  I took the easy way out and mounted an Incra LS25 positioner on an auxiliary table for my Minimax SC2, but would have used the method you used if I had thought about it. 

 

[blaszcsj]

This is great. Could you post parts list. I want to do this for my k3. Thank!

 

[hdv]

My apologies. I said I used an M10 threaded nut to slide in the slot of the slider. This was not correct. It should have been an M8 nut. Here's some photo's:

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

 

[hdv]

[member=45856]StanB[/member] : I'll give you some links to the parts I used. But I don't know if this company sells their products in the States. Misumi and 8020.net will probably have good equivalents, but you would have to find them yourself I am afraid.

The main parts are as follows:

2020 profile cut to 535 mm [1]
2020 profile with 1 closed side cut to 850 mm [2]
4020 profile cut to 100 mm [3]
2 plastic sliding guides for 2020 profile [4]
4 countersunk bolts M4 16 mm
13 flanged button head bolts M6 8 mm
1 adjustable handle M8 female 35 mm (I used one from Kipp made from Zamak, because that type is slimmer. The plastic ones are too thick to fit)
1 adjustable handle M6 female 33 mm (you will have to cut this to size, as it is not a standard size)
1 M6 washer
1 M8 washer
1 M8 sliding T-nut [5]
14 M6 sliding T-nuts made for 2020 profile (use "EU20 M6 nut" as a search term) [6]
1 self-adhesive scale that reads from left to right with at least 400 mm length
7 end caps for 2020 profile [7]
2 T-connector plates [8]
1 L-connector plate (the larger the better, because this one provides the support for the guide and prevents sagging) [9]
1 inner angle bracket 90 degrees for 2020 profile (the larger the better, because this one provides the support for the guide and prevents sagging) [10]
1 "patentbout" (no idea what that is called in English, please let me know if you do) [11]
1 piece of aluminium profile with a flange, cut to 20.5 mm (it must be a little bit more than 20 mm to prevent binding of the sliding part)  [12]

[1]https://www.motedis.nl/shop/Alumini...leuf-6/Aluminium-profiel-20x20-B-type-sleuf-6::999991.html

[2]https://www.motedis.nl/shop/Alumini...f-6/Aluminium-profiel-20x20-3N-B-type-sleuf-6::99999399.html

[3]https://www.motedis.nl/shop/Alumini...leuf-6/Aluminium-profiel-20x40-B-type-sleuf-6::99999158.html

[4]https://www.motedis.nl/shop/Dynamic...-glij-elementen/Glij-element-B-Type-sleuf-6-B::99999563.html

[5]https://www.motedis.nl/shop/Alumini...r-Nut-8-B-type/T-sleuf-moer-B-type-sleuf-8-M8::999994627.html

[6]https://www.motedis.nl/shop/Alumini...pe/T-sleuf-hamer-moer-staal-B-type-sleuf-6-M6::999997421.html

[7]https://www.motedis.nl/shop/Alumini...cap-Slot-6-B-Type/Afdek-kap-20-B-type-sleuf-6::99999557.html

[8]https://www.motedis.nl/shop/Alumini.../T-Connector-plaat-58x58x3-Laser-cut-20-serie::999993776.html

[9]https://www.motedis.nl/shop/Alumini...f-5-I-type/L-connector-plaat58x58x3-Laser-cut::999993868.html

[10]https://www.motedis.nl/shop/Alumini...indingen-gewrichten/Hoek-20x40-B-type-sleuf-6::99999554.html

[11]

View attachment 1

[12]

View attachment 2

 

[mkasdin]

My apologies. I said I used an M10 threaded nut to slide in the slot of the slider. This was not correct. It should have been an M8 nut. Here's some photo's:

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

the slot is 7mm for the t-nut and is the 20/20 an imperial measurement not a metric extrusion?

 

[hdv]

[member=60789]mkasdin[/member] : sorry I'm not sure I understand the question.

I took out my caliper and measured the dimensions of the slot in the slider, see below:

[attachimg=1]

The extrusion I used is standard EU20, that means is has sides of 20 mm. I found a drawing of its dimensions, see below:

[attachimg=2]

I hope that answers your questions. If not, please let me know.