A Cheap Compact Linear Slide

(update:   ̶̶G̶o̶o̶g̶l̶e̶ ̶d̶o̶c̶ ̶ -> less ponderous 'ible)

The ur-example:

Handwheel drive was a recent-ish simplification of a generalization of the slide mechanism used in #Minamil: a minimal CNC mill. After talking about but not posting sufficient info to make that reproducible for [some number of] months, I started this project when I had enough [i.e. too much] written about building a slide with handwheel drive, leaving stepper drive as a to-do.

The point: now the ̶d̶i̶y̶ ̶d̶o̶c̶ ̶ includes stepper drive. [Update: but the 'ible is the Better Way. (...and I've thought of a futher simplification, I think...)]  

motor needs tweaks

paperclip needs tweaks

backlash adjuster (#Minamil demonstrates usefully small backlash)

You could probably figure out much of that yourself, but expecting anyone to pull the spring out of thin air seemed unreasonable.

Yay (for me -- I struggle with the writing-up part of any project -- on the rare occasion that I  actually undertake to do so) for a milestone.

While writing up "details" for this project and its "silly long" instructions doc, I added:

...I've just thought of an easier-to-describe assembly sequence that might work. It might cost some flexibility for post-assembly tinkering, but maybe that's a good trade for nearly everyone.

And then I went and tried that. Fail. But failing lead to another idea that worked. So hopefully the "Assembly" doc will get thinner "soon".

(removed that bit from the "details")