V-Slot its like T-Slot with built in linear rails!

V-Slot: It's Like T-Slot with Built-In Linear Rails!

Your T-Slot printer build looks impressive. We've experimented with linear slide bearings as well and progressed to barrel-type rollers that would ride in the extrusion. However, the barrel rollers allowed for too much play. Even when made to fit snugly, materials like delrin, HDPE, or high-impact PVC would wear down over time, causing slack.

We encountered a similar issue with creating a V Wheel, which is designed to center itself but wore down when riding on standard extrusions, once again causing slack. The realization eventually came that standard extrusions were not designed for precise linear motion. Instead of redesigning the wheel to fit the rail, we designed the rail to perfectly fit the wheel. This insight led to the creation of V-Slot, which has been fantastic ever since.

We still have future plans for smaller wheel designs that will be solid and lack the internal 'V.' These compact designs will allow for smaller carriages. The design work is already complete, and prototypes are in development. If everything goes well, these will be added as a stretch goal in our KickStarter campaign. This new system will make the V-Slot Actuator modular, enabling quick builds that you can see on the KickStarter page. We're excited to bring these to life and appreciate any support. Please help us spread the word! Again, here is the link: [KickStarter link]

Thank you so much,
Mark and Trish
The OpenBuilds Team

Contact us to discuss your requirements for V Track Rollers and Guide Rails. Our experienced sales team can help you find the best options for your needs.

I understand your frustration with having to shim the linear bearings. We faced the same problem while working on an H-Bot design; they had too much play to allow for precision. It was crucial that they did not wiggle at all on the rod. Your T-Slot printer build looks awesome, and we experimented with linear slide bearings, moving to barrel rollers. However, these also allowed too much play over time, regardless of the material—delrin, HDPE, or high-impact PVC—all wearing down and causing slack. We encountered a similar issue with V Wheels, which centered themselves but wore down on standard extrusion, leading to slack.

Finally, we realized that standard extrusion wasn't designed for precise linear motion, and we needed to change our approach. Instead of redesigning the wheel to fit the rail, we made the rail fit the wheel perfectly. This breakthrough led to the creation of the V-Slot, which has been amazing ever since.

We have further plans for new, smaller wheel designs that will lack the internal 'V' and take up less space, allowing for smaller carriages. The design work is finished, and prototypes are underway. If all goes well, they'll be added to our KickStarter campaign as a stretch goal, making the V-Slot Actuator modular and enabling quick builds that you can see on our KickStarter page.

Slide Gate Hardware

Gate Depot offers a wide variety of slide gate hardware including chain, chain tensioner bolts, idler assemblies, guide rollers, gate catchers, mooring points, v-track, v-track stops, v-groove wheels, wheel boxes, mounting plates, pipe track wheels, nylon cantilever rollers, cantilever track, and carriage assemblies. Our products come from top brands like Duragate, Comunello, Liftmaster, Doorking, All-O-Matic, Eagle, Platinum Access Systems, Ramset, Linear, Security Brands, FAAC, Torxun, Modesto, Nice HySecurity, and Viking Access. If you need gate locks, please visit the gate locks category page. All our sliding gate hardware is designed for vehicular traffic, and options for pedestrian or garden gates are found in the Overhead/Barn Door Hardware category.

For more information, please contact us. We will provide professional assistance.

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The most common way to set up a slide gate is with a v-track and v-groove wheels. You can refer to our Slide Gate Diagram for guidance. At the base of the support posts, you’ll pour a concrete foundation twice as wide as the gate. On this foundation, you’ll mount a v-track for the gate to roll on. The gate itself will have wheelboxes welded or bolted to the bottom, allowing you to mount v-groove wheels. Two wheels suffice for gates up to about 20' long. The support post closest to the operator will have guide rollers to keep the gate upright while gliding freely back and forth. The support post on the far side of the driveway will have a gate catch or mooring point installed to secure the gate when it is fully closed. The rear of the gate will have extension arms welded or bolted to the top and bottom to keep the gate within the guide rollers and to route the chain to the rear of the gate operator. The chain will be attached to the gate using chain brackets and tensioner bolts. At the track's end, you'll install a slide gate stop to prevent the gate from running off the track if a limit switch fails.

Cantilever hardware is typically used for chain-link gates or in snowy areas where a track may be obstructed. A chain-link gate will have a rolling gate wheel at the front to provide support when closed, with four pipe track wheels at the back to keep the gate aligned and supported when open. If you're building a heavier custom steel gate, consider the Communelo Cantilever Gate Hardware from Architectural Iron Design under the Duragates brand. This system uses a "C" shaped cantilever track welded to the bottom of your gate with two carriages supporting the gate's full weight when extended in either direction. At the top, guide rollers hold the gate upright, similar to a v-track style gate. Various catchers and support cups are available for both ends of the gate. Due to the custom gate's variable weight and length, it’s crucial to engineer the foundation and gate correctly to support its weight properly. Consult an engineer to ensure stability.

If you have specific questions on any of our products, give us a call at (888) 818-4283.

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