Camera slider technology

Whether used in advanced professional camera rigs or in precision‑focused DIY motion‑control projects, the drylin® linear guide system provides an exceptionally flexible foundation for designing smooth, reliable camera‑movement solutions. Its modular architecture allows technicians, product designers and independent creators to configure custom camera carriages, sliders and dollies by combining rails, carriages, bearings and accessories to meet exact load, travel and mounting requirements. Because the system is based on tribologically optimised high‑performance polymers running on hard‑anodised aluminium, it operates entirely lubrication‑free, eliminating the risk of grease contamination on optical equipment while ensuring consistent, maintenance‑free performance over long service intervals. The engineered polymer sliding elements also deliver extremely low noise and vibration, a critical advantage for audio‑sensitive film environments and high‑precision tracking shots.

Beyond the linear guides themselves, igus® supports dynamic camera‑motion applications with energy chains and chainflex® cables designed for continuous flexing, tight bend radii and high‑speed movement. These components ensure stable power and signal transmission even under demanding cinematic motion profiles, reducing the risk of cable fatigue, signal loss or mechanical failure during operation. Together, the linear systems and igus® cable‑management solutions create a robust, lightweight and highly dependable platform for modern camera‑motion engineering—whether on set, in the studio or in custom‑built automation rigs.

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Top 6 products for film and camera technology

W profile guides

Example for manual camera sliders

Lubrication and maintenance-free
Quiet and dirt-resistant
Largest variety of rails and carriages

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Linear axes with toothed belt drive

Example for powered camera sliders

Lightweight construction made of plastic and aluminium
Configured with drylin® E stepper/DC motors

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PRT slewing rings

For rotary tables and other rotating devices

Lubrication-free, with sliding elements made of wear-resistant high-performance plastic
Also available with position monitoring

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iglidur® G plain bearings

Example for the tilt bearing of jibs

Lubrication and maintenance-free
For pivoting and rotational movements
Excellent coefficient of friction

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iglidur® G plain bearings

For camera carriages with long distances

Low-vibration, quiet operation
For applications with the highest accelerations
Cost-effective

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Durable bus cables

Ethernet-based bus for image processing systems

E.g. the Ethernet CAT6A CFBUS.050
For extremely heavy duty applications
With TPE outer jacket

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Motion plastics being used successfully

Rotating device for SLR camera and telescope

Precise and strong gearbox from the 3D printer

Low-cost components for astrophotography
We present the slowest igus application. To photograph celestial bodies at night, cameras must not only be equipped with high-quality telescopes, but also use long exposure to counteract the darkness. The problem with long exposure is the sensitivity of the photos to motion, and since the earth rotates on its own axis, changing the sky is inevitable. You will find out in the application report how this compensation takes place and how our tribo-filaments were able to increase the precision of astrophotography.

Large format camera

This camera uses drylin linear plain bearings that perform precisely and smoothly thanks to their lubrication-free components.

LED screen

This LED screen in Dallas was fitted with chainflex cables. They withstand heat, sun, rain and snow.

Spotlight installation

e-chains from igus carry numerous power and data cables in this breathtaking spotlight installation.

Customer applications

Camera slider

Whether slow product shots, time-lapse sequences, studio shoots or fast-paced camera movements during sports races, camera carriages are a popular accessory for steady shots. We have the right components in our product range for both the professional and DIY sector, which impress with their smooth operation, low weight and freedom from maintenance:

Simple, manually operated sliders can be assembled individually from our drylin W linear system.
If automation, remote control and more precision are required, we offer linear axes with toothed belt drive and the appropriate motor with control system - as cost-effective Advance- or high-quality Professional variant
Our extra-quiet energy chains of the series E3 and (at high speeds) E6.1 ensure that cables are carried safely.

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Camera cranes / jibs
In film and television technology, camera cranes are an indispensable tool for implementing tracking shots in three dimensions. Especially with large, telescopic models that move horizontally, our lightweight, maintenance-free products have advantages in many places of use.

During horizontal movement on the ground, extra-quiet e-chains of the E6.1 series, and during crane rotation, the 3D energy chain triflex R ensure a safe cable guidance.
For the bearing between base and boom we recommend iglidur G plain bearings, in the telescope wear-resistant iglidur JB bar stock plates for easy sliding up and down; the e-chain E4.1 undertakes the cable guidance along the telescope.
Our maintenance-free black PRT slewing ring bearing with dry-operating plastic sliding elements is recommended for rotating the camera.

Successfully in use by our customers

Camera carriage from Rail & Tracking Systems

Robust energy chains for high-speed camera carriages
The Trackrunner from Rail & Tracking Systems is a professional fast-moving camera carriage used in sports competitions and TV shows. For the safe guidance of the cables, the company relies on energy chains of the E6 series, which easily master the high accelerations even outdoors at high temperatures.

Camera rotary table with PRT slewing ring

Compact rotary table bearing for 360° product shots
A solution that was as light and compact as possible and required only a few components was sought for the bearing and drive of the rotary disc. A high mechanical resilience combined with low speeds was also required. The choice fell on light and vibration-dampening iglidur PRT slewing ring bearings.

... and more success stories
We have been able to help many customers to improve the movement of their film and camera technology systems. Take a look at other customer projects in which our light and robust e-chain® systems, lubrication-free linear guides, slewing ring bearings and sliding bushes are used: in large and small camera carriages, camera robots, rotary tables and jibs for large format cameras.

Consulting

I look forward to answering your questions

igus Australia1300 726 244 Write e-mail

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