I am finalizing the design for my newest multipurpose table and I have been working on this idea for a while. My idea is to use an acme screw as an rack and hob a worm gear for the movement.
The table I am planning on building is going to be 4x6 and I setup some challenges/goals i want to keep to which are only 1 motor per axis and develop the lowest cost reliable linear movement possible.
So here are my thoughts on the alternatives.
Ball screws - really expensive for longer lengths but good efficiency
Lead screw - cheap (10$ for 1/2-10 6ft lengths) until you get into the larger diameter screws, also possible issues with whipping at higher speeds.
Rack and pinion - medium cost of 50$ per rack + pinon
Belt drive - about the same cost as R&P
So thats when I came up with the thought of using a cheap lead screw for the rack and making my own pinon. Simple right?
Here are some pictures of where I am, i made a hob cutter, hobbed a pinion in delrin. I made a mold from the delrin so i could cast more pinons over aluminum hubs.
So any thoughts, comments, clarifications?
Ive looked around for someone doing something similar but i haven't seen anything, so no stealing my idea and making money off of it