Home Practice & Makers Alternative to ball bearings: YouTuber shows 3D printing of cylindrical bearings

Alternative to ball bearings: YouTuber shows 3D printing of cylindrical bearings

YouTuber Robert Murray-Smith has presented a method for producing cylindrical bearings using 3D printers. Ball bearings typically consist of balls that distribute forces evenly. However, 3D printing has its limits, as spheres become inaccurate due to the gradual layering. Cylinders, on the other hand, can be printed precisely and therefore offer a robust alternative. In his guide, Murray-Smith shows how to create cylindrical bearings using simple design tools such as TinkerCAD.

The basic principle is simple: First, a cylinder with defined dimensions (e.g. 10 x 10 x 10 mm) and a beveled edge is designed. This chamfer, the so-called “bevel”, reduces the problem of the “elephant’s foot”, a slight deformation at the base of the printed object. The cylinders later serve as rollers in the bearing.

A housing is then created for the cylinders. This consists of a rotational body that is modeled using SVG files and special tools in TinkerCAD. The housing design takes precise dimensions into account in order to hold the cylinders accurately.

After printing, the cylinders are alternately rotated by 90° and inserted into the housing to ensure even load distribution. A snap-in mechanism, also from TinkerCAD, is integrated for fixing. This ensures that the bearing remains stable and does not disintegrate under load.

The finished cylindrical bearing is suitable for radial, axial and moment forces, which makes it versatile. Such bearings could offer a cost-effective alternative to conventional ball bearings, particularly for larger applications such as rotary tables.

The 3D models are available free of charge on the Thingiverse platform. Interested parties can download the designs.


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