A manually operated XY table—also called a cross table—moves a workpiece along two perpendicular axes. A 2020 build documented by Hackaday shows how steel flat bar, guide rods, linear bearings and lead screws can be assembled into a useful positioning table, especially for repetitive drill-press work. It does not establish the table’s accuracy or repeatability, so it is best understood as a practical fabrication example, not a verified precision tool.
What an XY table does
An XY table lets you reposition a clamped workpiece in two directions without repeatedly loosening it and laying out each hole by hand. On a drill press, that can make a series of holes easier to place. A milling machine can use the same kind of two-axis positioning.
In the build described by Danie Conradie’s Hackaday report, published October 6, 2020, hand wheels turn lead screws to move the table along the X and Y axes. Ground steel rods and linear bearings guide the sliding parts.
How the scratch-built table is made
Steel frame and guided movement
Most of the frame is fabricated from steel flat bar. Ground rods provide the linear guides, and linear bearings support movement along them. Lead screws paired with hand wheels provide manual adjustment on both axes.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstall#1 Best Overall
- PAKAGE: This linear rail set includes 2x SBR16-2200mm linear rails, 4x SBR16UU bearing blocks, 1x 4mm wrench, 1x M6*12mm Locking Handle ( adjusting the tightness of the slider block ), 16x M5*20mm screws (connecting the sliding bearing blocks and plates ).
- MATERIAL: The guide rail is made of high-quality carbon steel, the bearing slider block is made of bearing steel with aluminum alloy housing, thickened material is not easy to damage; More steel bearing balls, low friction, light and flexible, smooth and unimpeded, longer service life.
- DESIGN: Adopt four-point contact design, which can withstand loads evenly in all directions and self-aligning function, can absorb the assembly error of the mounting surface, with high precision under high load.
- INSTALL: Aluminum alloy support with pre-drilled holes for ease of mounting. Conveniently install the bearing block by aligning the track with the mouth of the slide rail and pushing the bearing block until the it completely falls.
- APPLICATIONS: This Linear Guide Rail can help build an linear motion system. Widely used for DIY CNC routers, grinding machine, lathes, mills, machine tools, laser welding machines, punch, automatic cutting machine, printer, X-Y table, etc.
Keeping matching plates aligned
For opposing table plates that need corresponding holes, the builder spot-welded matching plates together and drilled them as a pair. This keeps the holes aligned between the pieces during fabrication.
Fabricated T-slot surface
The work surface uses a welded arrangement of wide flat bar over narrower flat bar to create T-slots. Those slots provide a way to secure workholding hardware, although the report does not specify dimensions or a rated load.
Rank #2
- HGR Linear Rail Kit: Comes with 2 x 78.74 in (2000 mm) linear rails, 68 x end caps, and 4 x rail clamps. This set is compatible with milling machines, 3D printers, industrial machines, and cutting machines
- Rust & Corrosion Protection: Crafted from high-hardness medium-carbon steel (HRC58–62) linear rail and alloy steel slide blocks with pre-drilled holes. Electroplated coating is at least 10 μm to resist rust and corrosion even in humid basements
- Silent & Smooth Sliding: Built-in ball-bearing slide blocks deliver quiet, low-friction motion while gripping the shaft tightly for stable linear travel. Less noise, less wear, more precision—every time you move
- High Precision, No Deviation: Feature a 0.1–0.22 μm surface finish and 0.1 mm/2000 mm straightness, paired with precise hole diameter and spacing, this linear slide rail set ensures easy installation and repeatable positioning, even over long travel distances
- Installation Made Easy: No extra installation tools are required. Designed with simplicity in mind, this linear motion guide rail kit installs quickly. It is suitable for DIY assembly or rail replacements
What it is useful for—and what is not established
The clearest use is repetitive drilling on a drill press: once a workpiece is secured, the operator can shift it in two axes rather than re-marking and repositioning it for every hole. The same basic function can help position stock on a milling machine.
The report gives no measured accuracy, repeatability, travel, load rating, cost, or dimensioned plans. It also notes that the build has no dials, making it appear unsuitable for precision work, and raises a question about how repeatably its lead-screw positioning can be set. Without measurements, it is not possible to say what tolerance the table can achieve or whether it will hold a particular machining requirement.
Rank #3
- PREMIER SBR12 KIT-This linear rail set includes 2pcs of 300mm(11.81inch) long sbr12 fully Supported rail shafts and 4pcs Industry-standard sbr12uu bearing slide block.
- HIGH-QUALITY- Linear rails kit are made of carbon steel and aluminum alloy, surface chrome plating treatment beautiful anti-rust, high hardness, more durable.
- EASY TO INSTALL-Aluminum support rail with pre-drilled holes for ease of mounting. Suits X, Y, Z axis.
- HIGH PRECISION- No stick-slip effect, less heating, reduced drive power required. Low friction loss, high transmission efficiency.
- APPLICATIONS: This Linear Guide Rail can help build an linear motion system. Widely used for DIY CNC routers, grinding machine, lathes, mills, machine tools, laser welding machines, punch, automatic cutting machine, printer, X-Y table, etc.
Build one or buy a manual XY table?
This build documents a way to fabricate a cross table; it is not a measured comparison with commercial tables. A useful decision is to compare the specific table you could make or buy against the demands of your work:
- Rigidity and load: check whether the structure can resist the forces and support the workpiece involved.
- Travel: confirm that each axis has enough movement for the parts you intend to handle.
- Backlash and readout: consider how much play the screws have and whether dials or another measurement method are needed for your positioning tasks.
- Workholding: assess whether the surface and slots accept the clamps or fixtures you need.
- Time and cost: account for fabrication effort and the full cost of steel, rods, bearings, screws, hand wheels and workholding hardware; the Hackaday report does not provide a project cost.
If you already have suitable fabrication tools and need a straightforward way to reposition work for non-critical drilling, the documented approach offers a starting point. If your work depends on known accuracy, repeatability, rigidity or capacity, choose a table with specifications that match those requirements or measure and validate a build before relying on it.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- PREMIER SBR12 KIT-This linear rail set includes 2pcs of 600mm(23.62inch) long sbr12 fully Supported rail shafts and 4pcs Industry-standard sbr12uu bearing slide block.
- HIGH-QUALITY- Linear rails kit are made of carbon steel and aluminum alloy, surface chrome plating treatment beautiful anti-rust, high hardness, more durable.
- EASY TO INSTALL-Aluminum support rail with pre-drilled holes for ease of mounting. Suits X, Y, Z axis.
- HIGH PRECISION- No stick-slip effect, less heating, reduced drive power required. Low friction loss, high transmission efficiency.
- APPLICATIONS: This Linear Guide Rail can help build an linear motion system. Widely used for DIY CNC routers, grinding machine, lathes, mills, machine tools, laser welding machines, punch, automatic cutting machine, printer, X-Y table, etc.
Rank #4
- SBR20 Linear Rail Kit: Includes two 78.74 in (2000 mm) linear rails and four slide blocks. It is compatible with cutting machines, grinding machines, milling machines, drilling machines, and other equipment
- Rust & Corrosion Protection: Crafted from high-hardness carbon steel shafts (HRC58–66) and aluminum alloy blocks and supports. Each linear rail is coated with a more than 10 μm electroplated layer to resist rust and corrosion, even in humid basements
- Silent & Smooth Sliding: Built-in ball-bearing slide blocks deliver quiet, low-friction motion while gripping the shaft tightly for stable linear travel. Less noise, less wear, more precision—every time you move
- High Precision, No Deviation: Feature a 0.1–0.22 μm surface finish and 5 mΩ straightness, paired with precise hole diameter and spacing, this linear slide rail set ensures easy installation and repeatable positioning, even over long travel distances
- Installation Made Easy: No extra installation tools are required. Designed with simplicity in mind, this linear motion guide rail kit installs quickly. It is suitable for DIY assembly or rail replacements
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
