Precision & Adjustable Clay Depth Guiderail System

Summary

Get perfectly even clay slabs every time. These guides lock onto a central rail, keeping them perfectly parallel so your roller has a straight, consistent track. Set your width with the built-in ruler and lock it in with the thumbscrews for no-slip, repeatable results.

Description

I designed this system because I was tired of my rolling sticks shifting around. This set fixes that problem completely.

The two guides slide onto a central rail that forces them to stay parallel—no more wonky slabs. The rail has a ruler marked in 5mm steps and locking holes every 10mm. Just slide the guides to the width you need and tighten down the thumbscrews. They won't budge while you're working.

I've included guides for a few common thicknesses (6mm, 8mm, 10mm) to get you started. For the best results, print these in PLA-CF. The carbon fiber makes them super stiff and dead straight, which is exactly what you want for this kind of tool.

This download includes STL files for easy printing, STEP files for broad compatibility, and the original Fusion 360 (.f3d) file. The design is fully parametric, so you can easily change the guide height, rail length, and hole spacing in a jiffy to perfectly match your needs.

Key Features

• Always Parallel: The center rail keeps the guides from shifting or going crooked.
• Quick Width Setting: Use the built-in ruler and locking holes to set your width in seconds.
• Rock-Solid Locking: Thumbscrews lock the guides tight so they don't move while you roll.
• Multiple Thicknesses: Includes guides for 6mm, 8mm, and 10mm slabs.
• Fully Parametric: The included F3D file lets you change guide height, rail length, and hole spacing to fit your exact needs.

Print Settings

• Material: Use PLA-CF if you can. The stiffness makes a big difference. Regular PLA or PETG works too, but might have a little more flex.
• Layer Height: 0.2mm is perfect.
• Infill: 20% is plenty strong.
• Supports: None needed. Just print all the parts flat on the bed.

Assembly

1. Print the rail, two pins, and a pair of guides in your chosen thickness.
2. Before assembling, screw the pins into the guide blocks once or twice. This cleans up the printed threads and makes them turn smoothly.
3. Slide the guides onto the rail.
4. Line them up using the ruler marks and tighten the pins into the rail slots. You're all set!

Design by Short-Circuit on MakerWorld (license: BY).