I am sure this is one of the perennial beginners questions you experts get sick of, but what is the most appropriate linear bearing for a low cost CNC router? Reading the forums the options seem to be:
1/ Plastic bush.
2/ Four 90 degree opposed ball races on some sort of home made mounting assembly.
3/ Simplicity bearings or similar.
4/ Recirculating ball slides on hardened shaft.
1 and 4 can be discarded due to too much friction and two much cost respectively.
If well designed and built 2 should be OK, but a lot of work.
3 seems OK but given that a 3 axis machine will require 12 slides at about $30 a pop its still somewhat expensive.
Is this about right? Have I missed some option?
Murray