Hypercube Evolution Compliant Linear Bearing by Chapelhill

Last crawled date: 3 years, 1 month ago

Warning work in progress!
Updated version, quicker and easier to print and size: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3366922
10 and 12 mm dia low force and speed linear bearings for 19mm dia housing, 26mm long.
This is a compliant linear bearing for low force and speed application such as the X carriage on the Hypercube evolution.
The bearings for the X axis if using carbon fibre rods can be difficult to get working effectively. The carbon rods are not uniform in diameter or perfectly round, the x carriage bearing holder may not be perfectly straight along its axis, the tightening or fit of the bearing in the x carriage affects the bearing fit, the x carriage may not have parallel axis separation and the separation may not match XY carriage joiner and the XY joiners may have twist.
The compliant linear bearing is aimed to try and address this by allowing the inner part of the bearing to move slightly and alter angle by only having a small amount of material joining the inner and outer and by having the bearing proportion made of a thin shell so it can confirm to shape of tube which helps the bearing to move more freely without allowing much movement with the typical forces encountered with 3 d printing. It requires two bearings on one axis in order something to be located axially, and could be used with just one for the second axis.
This is early version and has not been tested much, only on my printer which has not seen much use.
The little flange on the top is to engage with tightening screw to stop it coming out of X carriage if screw loosens on X carriage from https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2437440 but did have to drill out that X carriage for 12mm tube clearance. I will alter with CAD next time and upload.
Just cut off flange if not required and it is in the way.
If required I will add other versions/sizes without flange etc.
Added in some parts which I used to get 12mm dia x axis rods/tube working with.
All additional parts are remixes of the original Hypercube Evolution parts form Scott's design.
XY Joiner which uses standard Y dimensions, but has 12mm X rod using standard X axis separation. XY Joiner endcaps to suit, plain ended variation and screw thread insert version to lock X rods/tube. There is also 12mmdia Y end stop flag.