I'm at a cross roads, Here is what's happened with my project so far. I got all the pieces cut out and I am ready to start drilling all the holes and then assembling it. I have done several test to try out different ideals that I have had. Things have gone really well all but one thing. Which is why I'm at a cross roads. I designed my machine to have linear bearings, So the other day I ordered one 1/2 and one 3/4 bearing from a local bearing distributor, so I could get the measurements and figure out a few things before I ordered them all. When I went to pick up the bearings the guy there said I couldn't just use any shaft I would need a hardened one and it couldn't be cold rolled. He gave me a quote on some for the sizes I need and they were like $25 and $40 a piece. The ones I had planed on using were only around $10 a piece. He said if I used the cheaper ones the bearing would rub groves in the rod and mess up the rod and the bearings. So now I'm in search of ideals. I'm starting to wonder if it would just be more economical to just buy a machine already built. I hate that I have already put so much work and effort in this and it would just all go to waste. Saving some money wasn't the only reason I wanted to do it, It was also the thrill of having created something that could do so much. I have seen allot of other people on here use rollorblade bearings but I have pretty much designed my machine around linear ones. I was wonder if any one has any suggestions? or has any one used the linear bearing with cheaper rods and had good results? Any help would be appreciated.  |