If you dismantle a cd rom drive the rod the tray slides on is 3mm SS. You can drill a pin hole, but you'd have to figure out a way to attach the gear. I've made shafts for my DF, but haven't needed one for the blade since I went to the CP2 shaft and gear. Like spinmachinist, I have a machine shop, which helps. By the way, if you decide to take apart cd roms, save all the parts. Every screw (all metric and very handy) and especially the motor. You can rewind the motor and go brushless, which starts you into a whole new hobby. Also very addictive.