Beehive linear axis example

This quick guide provides a recipe for a simple linear axis, given the kit parts provided here.

Bill of Materials

Attachments:

• 1x motor_endcap_short
• 1x 55x55x35_endcap_short

Carriage and beam:

• 1x carriage_string
• 120mm long, 20x20mm extrusion

Interposers (feet):

• 2x inter_40mm_90

String carriage specific:

• 1x pulley
• 1x capstan_pulley
• 1x capstan_motor
• 1x capstan_holder

Hardware:

• 5x 40mm M5 socket head
• 15x 10mm M5 socket head
• 8x 8mm M3 button head
• 5x M5 nuts
• 2x M3 nuts
• 4x Derlin V-wheel
• 3x 608ZZ bearing
• 6x T-slot nuts or M5 nuts (for a printed beam)

Assembly

The carriage is the first part to go on the beam. Two M3 screws are used to attach the string ends; for now only one of them should be fastened.

At the bottom, 4 M5 nuts secure the derlin wheels:

The motor is fastened on the motor attachment using 4 M3 screws.

For the capstan pulley that sits next to the motor shaft, you should insert two 608ZZ bearings separated by the spacer, this prevents excessive compression on the bearing pair.

The string is wrapped bottom to top. It's easier to mount the capstan support structure only at the end. Note the two M3 screws + nuts that fasten the motor's capstan to the shaft.

On the other end, the pulley is assembled by press-fitting a 608ZZ bearing and assembling the pulley holder onto the grid of holes. Note the slots for tensioning as the last step.

The complete axis should look something like this after adding the feet. Note how the free side of the string passes through the hole embedded within the carriage: