Linear shafts
Traditionally, all movement is supported and constrained by bearings running on linear shafts. While alternatives are getting more common, this is also what I am going for on my CEVO. In this post I will compare a few different shafts. Traditionally most 3D printers have used solid stainless steel shafts. They are available cheaply from China in quite good, but sometimes varying, quality. The major disadvantage of these steel shaft is that they are quite heavy, but they are also quite stiff and smooth. Quality suppliers like Igus and Misumi have alternatives in aluminium and as tubes instead of solid, but these tends to be quite expensive. In later years quite cheap Carbon tubes have been available from China. Here and there people are experimenting with using these carbon tubes as an alternative to stainless steel shafts. They should be 3K roll wrapped carbon tubes. Their main advantage is that they are a lot lighter, and personally I think they also just look a lot cooler - for