Hi hoppo,

I too have an interest in photography; I also note the price on some of the linear dolly’s available. I can’t remember the one I looked at now but its main linear component is one from a company called igus.co.uk, a plate machined on a cnc machine is all they have really added to it.

Fair play to them taking a product and adding value to it!

I was thinking a “better” version would be one that uses a lead screw and stepper hooked up to a pendant, I noticed from some of even the best YouTube videos of people using this device they still didn’t have the smoothest motion that could be achieved.

This little project is on the back burner for me but I will be keeping my eye out for you and how your getting on.

Realistically you need to be looking at a budget of £1500 to start with, but again that is really pulled out of thin air because lots of other factors come into it. How big will your machine be, what materials will you use to fabricate its construction, will you be commissioning other machinist’s to fabricate the parts for you and on it go's !

There is really allot to learn and understand, but don’t worry! This is the place to find out just what you’re letting yourself in for. My suggestion at the moment is to continue reading the forums, you will find lots of occurrences of the same questions coming up and being answered, however there is always more to learn and what you don’t find out on one thread, you will then pick up on another.

Ask as many questions as you have and when/if you get to a point where you have information overload, jump into the DIY Machine Building section for a little visual R&R on what can be achieved and made possible.

Good Luck & Welcome !

.Me