Cheap Linear Bearing Holy Grail?

[ger21]

Yeah, if I had a metal lathe, I'd definately try to make the rollers, and buy the rail. At $20+ each, they add up fast.

[vacpress]

i have a lathe, just no experience turning parts.. i havent had it long. i use it alot to make couplers and to true parts, etc. nothing much. i bout the lathe used with lots of tooling.

anyone got any specific advice on what setups to use to make a vflange style bearing like in my first images?

id image some kind of carbide facing cutter to machine the outside diameter true? then using a v-cutter carbide tool to make the V?

ive got lots of tools i dont know the names of -different lathe cutters.

[Hobbiest]

Teilhardo...reading one of the posts from the first page. A V shape can be less tolerent to fit the same shape. In other words...it could roll on angle iron, strap steel, or round stock. I am going to turn down some old skatboard wheels, and see it that works. You can usually get skateboards cheap at garage sales, thrift stores, etc.

[doug6949]

Originally posted by ESjaavik But please look at this: http://www.skc-technik.de/bilder/ant...n_coatings.pdf

This appears to be similar to Moglice. You can make your own using epoxy, moly disulfide and teflon powder. Most any type of ground shafting will work for the rails - thomson, drill rod, hydraulic, etc. The latter two have the advantage of being easily drilled.

Doug

[tpworks]

I am currently using UHMW with 1 1/2" cold rolled polished with 600grit wet/dry sand paper (wet) and it seems to be holding up really well. I cut the blocks on a high quality table saw and drilled them with an 1 1/2" forstner bit on my drill press. Then drilled (6) 3/8" half moon reliefs about the perimitter and use silicone spray as a lubricant. Got to say it has been working great with no signs of wear at all. 4' of cold rolled cost me $20 .00 . Originally this was just a temporary setup and I was going to replace them with some wheels that I turned out of aluminum with abec 7 bearing inserts but it has worked so well that I never had to change them. It's been over 2 years. I use my router to carve signs and craft projects for our country gift shop.

[tpworks]

the partialy finished aluminum wheels that are finished now but no recent photo

[tpworks]

Finished wheels.

[pminmo]

TPworks,
Great looking wheel/bearing assembly. I assume you did them on a lathe, but what kind of cutter? BTW went to college with a guy from Seymour, Bob (Bud) Shippe.

Phil

[tpworks]

I have the speedway 7x12 mini-lathe and the HF Mini-mill and I had to create a tool that pivots to cut them.

[davesaudio]

I must be extra dense tonight
"Then drilled 6 3/8" half moon reliefs about the perimitter and use silicone spray as a lubricant. "
I'm not picturing this- these are perpendicular to the axis of the cold rolled?
drilled yet "half moon"? help...

[tpworks]

Drilled parallel to the shaft to reduce friction by reducing the bearing surface, and then spray the shaft and let dry , slicker than grease. I moved the carriage effortlessly with one finger before the screw was in place.

[tpworks]

Hope this link works I couldn't get it to take an attachment so I tried a hyperlink.