Easy Linear Stage V2 - Gridfinity Compatible - CAD Provided

Intro:

The Easy Linear Stage is a an open sourced fully printable linear stage. The design leverages a fully printed lead-screw and nut which makes it very cheap and easy to produce. This design is fully open sourced and more updated versions may be available on the GitHub repository for the project:

https://github.com/SGTHANKI/EasyPrintedStages

Detailed build instructions can be found on my personal website alongside different build configurations:

https://www.tomsvault.org/My+Projects/Easy+Stages/Linear/Printed+Easy+Linear+Stage

The stage is part of a larger ecosystem of 3D Printed Parametric Laboratory hardware including a rotary stage, syringe pump, and clamp/retort stand system. You can find those designs here on Printables or via the GitHub repository linked above.

This design alongside an ESI sprayer were presented at the BMSS AI SIG conference in Nottingham 2025, where a talk was also given on the chemical compatibility of printed polymers. More information on that can be found on my personal website though specifics cannot be shared before a scientific paper on the subject matter is published due to publisher copyright restrictions, though all work will be open once we are able.

All CAD designs are done in FreeCAD and are shared alongside the 3mf design files. If you remix or make new hardware for this please let me know, I would be happy to allow contributions to the repository. We have a discord server for the open lab hardware project this is a part of:

https://discord.gg/n7evB8ZUgx

Build Options:

The design is built to be as modular as possible and users are encouraged to download FreeCAD and export the model to 3mf files for printer directly from the CAD files instead of using those provided. Numerous mounting solutions are also provided for the stage.

Optional Gridfinity Standard Mounting Plate

The FreeCAD design makes use of the Gridfinity Workbench within FreeCAD. A 2x2 unit Gridfinity base plate is provided in the design that can be screwed into the base of the stage. Additionally a 4x4 unit bolt together mesh is provided to act as a starting point for mounting a Gridfinity based stage system. 

Mounting bolts for the Gridfinity base plate go through the magnet holes on the plate base. 

Note: If you make a custom base larger than 2x2u, you will need to quickly pocket the holes all the way through the plate. This has already been done on the provided 2x2u base.

Optional Top Plate

An optional top plate can be printed with the design. It mounts via 4 M3 bolts in the corners of the plate. The other 2 holes in the plate are for locking bolts, these holes go all the way through the top plate of the stage and allow a longer 25mm M3 bolt to be tightened down into the base of the stage, locking it in place. This can be used to lock the stage in a desired position. You can also make custom mounting plates with the original FreeCAD designs, just delete the last 2 operations on the body and you'll have a nice blank plate. 

The mounting plate features a grid of 2.6mm diameter holes, these are the perfect size for M3 bolts to thread into without the need for threaded inserts. The holes are spaced 5mm apart to make designing custom mounting hardware as easy as possible. 

Clamp, Bolt Down Mounts and Other Stages

On my Printables profile and linked below you'll find a clamp for the top mounting plate and a simple bracket to make bolting this thing down a lot easier. You can also mount other stages from the Easy Stage ecosystem I've made to the top of this one or mount this one to the top of one of those with basic M3 bolts. 

• https://www.printables.com/model/1196342-easy-stage-side-mounted-bolt-down-bracket-cad-prov
• https://www.printables.com/model/1194436-easy-stage-clamp-accessory-cad-provided
• https://www.printables.com/model/1194383-easy-rotary-stage-v2-gridfinity-compatible-cad-pro

Assembly Instructions

Step 1: Print it

Print the adjuster and threaded nut in a non-carbon-fibre reinforced filament, ideally PETG, at 100% infill. For the adjuster specifically, print it vertically and use painted on organic supports on the top part only to stop it wobbling as you print. See the screenshot below for specifics: 

All the other parts can be printed in whatever you want and will even work with a 0.6mm nozzle. 

Step 2: Thread the Adjuster and Lubricate It

Note: That little triangle doesn't mean anything on the threaded block. Its for another design this part is used in. 

Step 3: Mount the Upper Plate

Insert the longer M3 bolts into the side of the upper but leave some space, you only want about 2mm of the bolt to protrude into the way, as seen below:

Slide the upper over the lower assembly from Step 1, you don't need to put the shim in yet. You'll feel the top seat itself down onto the threaded block with a click, once you feel this you can tighten the two M3 bolts on the top.

Step 4: Slide in The Shim/Way

You can now slide the shim in, make sure the holes on the side of the shim face the bolts you partially inserted earlier. Make sure its nice and covered in silicone grease!

Slide the shim all the way in and then start to tighten the bolts on the side.

IMPORTANT: Tighten each bolt a little at a time alternating between them. After each bolt check to see if moving the stage is hard, if its hard to move you've tightened the bolts too much and should back them off about half a turn. These bolts are what constrain the stage, you want no play (wobble) in the top of the stage but still want to be able to move the stage with little/no resistance.

You're now done with basic assembly and can mount whatever addons like the gridfinity base (seen above already installed) or the mounting plate seen in the cover photo.