In thinking about and designing 3d printers, cnc machines, and random robotics things, I always seem to come back to motion systems. Usually linear motion systems. I can find a lot of subjective things like "ball screws are better than lead screws, and linear rails are better than v-wheels," but by how much? In what specific ways? And is that even true, or just false knowledge passed down by people repeating what they have heard?

As far as I can see it, there are two separate parts of a linear motion system: the drive, and the support. And there are a large number of measurements where some combination of systems may excel or fail.

Drive Systems (in no particular order)

• Rack and Pinion
• Chain and Sprocket
• Timing Belt
• Lead Screw
• Ball Screw
• Solenoid
• Maybe others?

Support (in no particular order)

• Linear Rail
• Lead Screw
• Ball Screw
• Linear Rod
• V-Wheels
• Conveyor Belt-style-thing
• Probably many others I am not thinking of

Objective Measurements

• Maintenance Required (oiling, etc.)
• Maximum Load
• Maximum Distance
• Speed
• Backdriveability
• Noise
• Inertia
• Friction
• Vibration
• Backlash
• Initial Setup (belt tensioning, for example, other methods of setting preload)
• Differences per axis (for instance, my gut says lead screws can use gravity as a form of pre-tension, meaning they probably inherently work better as a z-axis)
• Probably others

I would love it if there was a list somewhere where someone has done the research and laid out in fairly objective ways the pros and cons of the different combinations. I haven't been able to find anything though.