A compact adjustment mechanism that provides precision linear travel. The drive mechanism has a knob with a paddle at an inner end that is used to transfer torque. A drive screw has a plurality of grooves disposed around an outer diameter, a plurality of threads at an opposite end from the plurality of grooves, and a torque transfer leaf spring that receives the paddle. A drive housing has a bored hole into which the drive screw is disposed. A threaded hole is formed at an end of the bored hole distal from the knob that receives the plurality of threads of the drive screw. A ball spring plunger is disposed in a threaded hole on the side of the drive housing that mates with the plurality of grooves in the drive screw. The drive screw may have different configurations to implement linear straight movement, provide 90 degree linear movement, or drive a pivot lever.