Roller Bearing - 3/4" PVC by cooasty

Last crawled date: 3 years ago

Finished bearing size of 17 mm wide x 78 mm with 7 rollers. I tried to make this build a snug fit. Your printer/filament may give you different results. I found that the same part will be slightly different in size when color was changed. Part sizes given will not usually print that size.
Printer: Check bed/nozzle clearance. The 1st filament layer should be same as rest to try and get square edges.
Cleanup: Remove ridges on vertical edges, chamfer holes and flat sand components. A finger/finger nail will help.
Bearing Rollers;
String them on a 7/32 drill bit by hand (pliers). Spin the bit while holding file/sand paper to the rollers. Round is good. Next, Spin the bit while holding the outer most roller with the pliers to clean the inside hole and remove one at a time.
The rollers can be reloaded on the bit and held into place with a discarded roller that has been heated in water and formed around the bit. A #1 drill bit will give .2 mm larger hole. Scale as necessary.
Bearing sides;
Slow print speed to around 25% when starting the pins. A timer will work as a reminder.
Check the mating surfaces. Work with the parts until the desired fit is achieved.
Insert the bearing pin side into the collar a little past flush. Load the rollers. Check the fit up by inserting a piece of 3/4" PVC. Then rotate the bearing hole side until the flat sides of the circle & pins line up. Press together.
That's the bearing part. You may stack as many together is you like. There are two options for the inside spacer when stacking more then two. You can use one with rollers.
Everything should move easily. Apply lub & glue if desired.
Pulley sides: I provided these to use bearing as a filament guide spool.
Some images show the components (colors do not match) required to make the completed part below.
3.10.16 Added low resistance rollerV2. Design per image.
3.12.16 Added larger dia. side pulley & inside race bushing for 1/2" bolt. Used a 1/2" bit for internal cleanup. Cut 3/4" PVC to appropriate length. A lathe will dial things in.
I would be interested in how the bearing is used.