Pattern for vertical motion using technic lego I have a motor and some other components that move a machine vertical on the ground. Inside the machine i need to raise a part by 5 cm, up and down. 

Are there some common patterns that can move objects vertically (lift) using technic lego? Torque comes from a motor powering gears.
You can accomplish this using gear racks (3743):



You just have to create some type of channel that allows the rack to slide vertically, and then set up a gear to mesh with the rack. You can do this however you like, but here's a quick example that I built to show you what I mean: