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03 · Linear-motion fidget mechanism · printed and fit-tuned

FocusSlide

A carriage that runs between two rails and two end stops.

Spinning and clicking are loud enough to get noticed in a classroom. I designed FocusSlide for lessons: a silent movement under the desk, with a hard stop at each end so my hand knows where it is without looking.

Download my files How it works

01The mechanism

How it works.

What this one taught me: Tolerances on a sliding fit, and why a track cover matters more than the track.

The main body is a supporting base with two parallel rails along its length. The rails guide a sliding carriage and keep it aligned as it moves.

The carriage carries a raised thumb pad for grip. Pushed, it travels along the rails from one end to the other; two end stops define the limits and keep the carriage on the track.

The design explores controlled linear movement: guided translation, alignment and travel limits.

02Parts

Every part, named.

Dimensions are from my STL files. Parts without a file are printed as part of a neighbour or are plain primitives in the model.

  • Track base72 by 30 mm body with the rail channelsSTL
  • Track coverKeeps the carriage captiveSTL
  • Slider carriage16 by 9 mm carriage with thumb padSTL
  • Rails and end stopsPart of the printed base; separate primitives in the modelNo file

03Files

Print it yourself.

Shared under CC BY 4.0. My Python script rebuilds the assembly in Blender 3.6 or later from primitives and animates it; the STL parts are the printable components and may need fit tuning for your printer.

Talk to us

Printed one? Tell me.

If you print one of my designs, or change one, send me a photo. Remixes are the point.

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