best youtube video tutorial for building a linear slide

To build the most effective linear slide, you should choose a tutorial that matches your specific hardware system, prioritizing goBILDA's official rigging guides on YouTube if you use Viper-Slides, or Brogan M. Pratt's YouTube rigging tutorials if you use MiSUMI drawer slides. If you are using the goBILDA Viper-Slide kit, which comes as a complete multi-stage kit and is one of the few off-the-shelf belted options, goBILDA's official video "Driving Linear Slides using Extension and Retraction Cable (Viper Slide Kit Rigging Guide)" on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRyI8FNifdA) is the most direct and reliable resource. For teams opting for MiSUMI aluminum drawer slides to achieve high performance with less complexity than custom box-tube elevators, Brogan M. Pratt's YouTube guides, "How to Rig Misumi Linear Slides (String Drive)" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7MPn3sod5Y) and "How To Rig Misumi Linear Slides (Belt Drive)" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1H2ShtrusC0), provide precise, step-by-step instructions for both string-driven and belt-driven configurations. These recommendations align with Game Manual 0, which highlights the Viper-Slide kit and MiSUMI drawer slides as excellent, low-complexity options for FTC teams .

If your team is using the REV Robotics 15mm Linear Motion Kit, REV provides its own complete guide on how to rig the slides. However, because the stock REV kit is prone to binding and requires significant modification and support to perform well, you may need to seek out custom community modifications. For teams using MGN series linear bearing blocks, which are extremely smooth and strong but require custom mounting parts, Game Manual 0 suggests searching Google for "improving cheap MGN slides" to optimize their performance. These principles and limitations of extrusion and bearing block slides are detailed in Game Manual 0 .

Additional resources and discussions on building linear slides are available in restricted sections of the documentation. Chief Delphi has community discussions on DIY linear slides and mechanisms, which can be found at "DIY linear slides for FTC" (https://www.chiefdelphi.com/t/diy-linear-slides-for-ftc/505798) and "FTC - Linear Slide mechanisms" (https://www.chiefdelphi.com/t/ftc-linear-slide-mechanisms/396150). REV Robotics also provides official documentation on linear actuators and motion kits, which can be found at "Linear Actuator Assembly | REV ION Build System" (https://docs.revrobotics.com/ion-build/build-guides/linear-actuator-assembly), "Linear Motion Kit | REV DUO Build System" (https://docs.revrobotics.com/duo-build/linear-motion-kit), "Linear Motion | REV DUO Build System" (https://docs.revrobotics.com/duo-build/motion/linear-motion), and "Linear Actuators | REV ION Build System" (https://docs.revrobotics.com/ion-build/motion/linear-actuators) .

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Chief Delphi > FTC > DIY linear slides for FTC

Chief Delphi·Community forum posts — not openly licensed

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Chief Delphi > FTC > FTC - Linear Slide mechanisms

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Extrusion Slides > REV Robotics 15mm Linear Motion Kit > Advantages

Game Manual 0·CC BY-NC 4.0

REV has complete guide on how to rig the linear slides
Easily interfaces with REV building system
Lightweight, should be used for light/medium loads only
If tweaked, can be a very efficient linear slide

Does not perform well out of the box
Can flex under load, needs additional support
May need some modifications such as custom sliders

(Figure: 11115 Gluten Free, Rover Ruckus, custom REV slides)

(Figure: 8680 Kraken-Pinion, Rover Ruckus, REV slides)

Open Game Manual 0

Linear Bearing Slides > Round Linear Bearings

Game Manual 0·CC BY-NC 4.0

Round linear bearings are similar to bearing blocks and have similar properties, but they can be used on any round shaft rather than a specialized rail. They can also be used in applications where sliding mechanisms have to rotate on the same axis.

Round linear bearings can easily be sourced from most robotics suppliers, including goBILDA and Actobotics. However, there are currently no out-of-the-box lift kits using these bearings available from these suppliers. It is difficult to make a compact slide setup using only kit parts, and for this reason most teams using round linear bearings use custom parts to mount them.

Round linear bearings are often mounted with clamps, but they can also be mounted using inexpensive snap rings that snap onto the grooves on the outsides of the bearings.

Many teams use round linear bearings with inexpensive aluminum and carbon fiber tubes instead of steel tubes to save weight. Although slide assemblies made this way are extremely light, they are prone to wearing out over time as the steel balls wear into the softer materials. Teams should keep this in mind and try to design their slide systems so that the tubes can easily be replaced.

(Figure: 8417 'Lectric Legends, Rover Ruckus, round linear bearings and carbon fiber tubes with 3D printed mounts)

(Figure: 5975 Cybots, Relic Recovery, round linear bearings and carbon fiber tubes with 3D printed mounts)

(Figure: 11115 Gluten Free, Skystone, round linear bearings and metal shafts with 3D printed mounts)

(Figure: goBILDA, round linear bearings with metal clamps and shafts)

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Extrusion Slides > REV Robotics 15mm Linear Motion Kit

Game Manual 0·CC BY-NC 4.0

The REV 15mm Linear Motion Kit (https://www.revrobotics.com/rev-45-1507/) is based on the 15mm extrusion system. This extrusion kit does not perform well without modification. This has been partially remedied by REV as they have developed a second iteration of their slide kit, which has much better tolerances on the Delrin sliders.

Still, you'll see some competitive teams use this kit with multiple modifications, such as adding lots of lubricant and mounting the sliders differently. Teams have also 3D printed their own sliders, though this is not a great idea for teams without much 3D printing experience. One of the biggest issues with the stock REV kit is the tendency of the slides to bind. Additionally, since the only thing attaching one extrusion to another is the plastic slider, the REV slides are not particularly sturdy, and require crossbeams to keep alignment.

Overall, this kit is lightweight, simple, and cheap. It can be a good start for teams using REV and needing a linear extension, and is generally usable out of the box. However, it is not very smooth and only achieves its maximum potential when modified and tweaked.

Open Game Manual 0

Linear Bearing Slides > MGN Series Linear Bearing Blocks

Game Manual 0·CC BY-NC 4.0

MGN linear bearing blocks are the most common linear bearing blocks in FTC. They are the smallest of a larger classification of slides made by HIWIN Corporation. They come in several sizes, the smallest being MGN7 and the largest being MGN15.

It is recommended that teams only use MGN7, MGN9, and MGN12 slides. A pair of MGN12 slides is sufficient to lift a 40lb (20kg) robot. MGN9 slides are similar in weight and scale to MiSUMI drawer slides. MGN7 slides are smaller, but they are slightly more inconvenient to work with because they use smaller M2 screws for mounting.

If ordered directly through industrial supply centers such as HIWIN, these slides can be expensive. For hobbyists, however, they are sold at more reasonable prices through sellers on Amazon and eBay, although these sellers may have questionable quality control. You can find more information with a Google search of "improving cheap MGN slides"

Open Game Manual 0

Custom Options

Game Manual 0·CC BY-NC 4.0

Some teams have opted to build custom solutions for linear motion. Many of these teams borrow concepts from FRC® teams, modeling their elevators off of the tall systems found on the larger robots. There's a reason that many competitive FRC teams build the same type of elevator - at their scale, the box tube elevator has proven to be the most efficient way to get game pieces off the ground at blisteringly fast speeds.

When built correctly, an elevator of this type can withstand hundreds of pounds of load on any axis while barely weighing anything. However, existing off-the-shelf options already fill the linear motion needs of most FTC® teams.

Custom extension systems also require tons of work in CAD, hours upon hours of manufacturing time, and may need multiple iterations before they work correctly. Due to their complexity and how challenging they are to design, less experienced teams may encounter significant challenges.

Note: Lightweight drawer slides (MiSUMI aluminum and Long Robotics Slides) can offer similar performance at a fraction of the complexity.

(Figure: 7236 Recharged Green, Rover Ruckus, custom box tube linear elevator)

(Figure: 13075 Coram Deo Academy Robotics, Rover Ruckus, custom 8020 chain driven hang)

(Figure: 7172 Technical Difficulties, Rover Ruckus, fishing pole extension using gear rack)

Open Game Manual 0

Linear Bearing Slides

Game Manual 0·CC BY-NC 4.0

Linear bearings are specialty ball bearings. Unlike radial ball bearings, they run balls through cyclical tracks along the length of a rail or shaft to create smooth, stable, precise linear motion. They are used in many industrial automation systems, including 3D printers and CNC machines.

Attention: Unlike with most slides, the balls of linear bearings are not well retained when the bearings are removed from their rails. Linear bearings with a few balls missing have slightly decreased performance. Be sure to handle and store the bearings with care and to be prepared if their balls fall out.

There are two types of linear bearings generally used in FTC: round linear bearings and linear bearing blocks.

Open Game Manual 0

Extrusion Slides > goBILDA goRAIL

Game Manual 0·CC BY-NC 4.0

Linear motion guides (https://www.gobilda.com/gorail-based/) are goBILDA's take on linear motion using goRAIL, which is a type of extrusion compatible with V-groove bearings. Similar to a standard 8020 V-groove carriage, used in FRC, goRAIL is a lighter option that is better suited for FTC.

Open Game Manual 0

Linear Bearing Slides > MGN Series Linear Bearing Blocks > Advantages

Game Manual 0·CC BY-NC 4.0

Extremely smooth thanks to usage of ball bearings
Stiffer and stronger than almost any other type of slide
Steel rails don't wear out the way aluminum slides do

Because MGN rails and sliders are made entirely of steel, they are generally much heavier than aluminum drawer slides. This is not an issue with MGN9 slides, which are marginally heavier, and MGN7 slides, which are marginally lighter.
Simplest way to connect slides together and mount pulleys is using custom parts
Cheap slides generally need some attention to clean and re-grease

(Figure: 8813 The Winter Soldiers, Rover Ruckus, MGN12 slides connected with custom box tubes)

(Figure: 8221 Cubix, Res-Q, MGN slides connected with 3D printed parts)

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Linear Actuator Assembly | REV ION Build System

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Linear Motion Kit | REV DUO Build System

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Linear Motion | REV DUO Build System

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Linear Motion Guide

Game Manual 0·CC BY-NC 4.0

Linear motion is one of the most important components of a successful robot. In most games, teams are required to reach into an area that the drivetrain cannot access in order to pick up or deposit game elements. For example, in 2017-2018, Relic Recovery, teams needed to extend an arm of some sort to grab the Relic that was placed in the corner of the playing field. This area of the game field was nearly impossible for a robot to drive to, so a linear extension was necessary.

Access of > 18" is necessary for nearly all games; >24" is preferred. In some games, an extension of 36" or more may be needed.

Note: It is possible to achieve extension with an arm, but since this guide is geared toward newer teams, linear extensions should be prioritized over arms. Refer to the Arm Guide for more information.

Open Game Manual 0

goBILDA > Notable components

Game Manual 0·CC BY-NC 4.0

goBILDA uses 8mm pitch chain and HTD 3 or HTD 5 belts for motion.
goBILDA mostly uses clamping hubs (called Sonic hubs), eliminating the unreliable set screws.
goBILDA shafts are metric (6mm D and 8mm rounded hex).
The primary structural component is the 48mm aluminum U-channel, shown below.

(Figure: goBILDA U-channel (48x48 mm))

Low-Side channel (smaller profile channel) complements full size channel. Low-Side channel is just 12mm in height and allows for more compact builds. Additionally, Low-Side channel opens up possibilities such as a kit-based parallel plate drivetrain. Low-Side channel also forms the basis of the cascading kit with a 2 or 4 stage option.

(Figure: goBILDA low-side channel (12x48 mm))

Mini-Low-Side channel (even smaller profile channel) that compliments Low-Side channel. Mini-Low-Side channel is 12mm tall and just 32mm wide, making it great for small structures.

(Figure: goBILDA mini-low-side channel (12x48 mm))

Viper-Slides are goBILDA's version of the commonly used drawer slides for linear extension in 336mm and 240mm lengths. Notably, goBILDA sells a Viper-Slide kit, which contains all of the parts to assemble either a 2 stack or 4 stack of slides. In addition, they are one of the few vendors who sells a belted version of these slides. The 240mm slide is also uniquely bidirectional, sliding both ways.

goRAIL is extrusion that complements the channel offerings well. goRAIL is used in the linear actuator kit for extending mechanisms.

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Linear Actuators | REV ION Build System

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