patio door rollers: Maybe?

[Regnar]

I was at the Home Depot today and I came across patio door rollers. I always keep and eye out for things that could be used or things that I could try, but I figured I would get your guys opinions first. What I was thinking was to take the rollers and using them on some 3/8 L beam steel. The L beam was the only steel there that was rounded over close to the patio bearings.

Things that are coming off the top of my head are they can handle a lot of weight, Hell when I removed patio doors here at the house I need help to carry the glass to the truck.

I see them sorta like v bearings just a u instead of a v. So what do you guys think just a waste of time or might be onto something. Any other ideals on what to use for the track?

Here is a picture with a few close measurements.

[rustamd]

I think they would work, but good improvement for it would be to put ball bearing in it. I think those rivet type shafts are not so precise to begin with.

But how much are they? Will they compare to $12/ea. for v-groove bearings if you also compare precision?

[dertsap]

i had the same idea a while back but those bearings are too sloppy to work

[Madclicker]

Those bearings won't work, but there are some on the same rack that get closer. They are the lower bearings for the heavy glass patio doors. Look a lot like the real v-bearings. They have ball bearings, but are a little too sloppy as is.

[olskool]

I've been thinking the same thing about these little suckers. They're about $5 for 2. I've got two pix, showing the bearing and the side profile.

there's about 1/32" of play in both the left/right, and the axial direction




hmmmm... is it too much to ask to wonder if these will work with the v-aluminum some people are using?

[rustamd]

hmm, what if you press that bearing out and put skate bearing in there... Whats diameter of that bearing?

[olskool]

i'm no bearing-ologist but they're about 17mm across, and 9mm thick. they appear to be made of two pieces, and they are pressed together, but I have no idea how to press them out.

[rustamd]

Originally Posted by olskool i'm no bearing-ologist but they're about 17mm across, and 9mm thick. they appear to be made of two pieces, and they are pressed together, but I have no idea how to press them out.

posibly the same way you would press new bearings in, with press, either arbor or hydraulic?

[dertsap]

5/16 rod and a hammer breaks them apart , you can (carefully) grind back the one part about .01" to close up the gap ,they are very cheaply built and assembled ,the material is softer than what you would need for a proper bearing ,
i came to the conclusion that i had wasted a few more bucks on research and developement

[Madclicker]

Originally Posted by dertsap 5/16 rod and a hammer breaks them apart , you can (carefully) grind back the one part about .01" to close up the gap ,they are very cheaply built and assembled ,the material is softer than what you would need for a proper bearing , i came to the conclusion that i had wasted a few more bucks on research and developement

Yea, I don't think they would be any good for a router.......I think I'll use them for a foam cutter. They ride very nice on 1/4" HR flat bar. Constructed from unistrut......hmmmm.....4 independent axes.....I can see the light!

[rustamd]

Originally Posted by Madclicker Yea, I don't think they would be any good for a router.......I think I'll use them for a foam cutter. They ride very nice on 1/4" HR flat bar. Constructed from unistrut......hmmmm.....4 independent axes.....I can see the light!

i agree, they might not like alot of load, but might be useful alternative to some other projects that require linear movement..

[Madclicker]

Originally Posted by rustamd i agree, they might not like alot of load, but might be useful alternative to some other projects that require linear movement..

Try them. Let us know how they work out. I wasn't happy with them and stopped at the $5 level.