homemade vee bearings

[tomcook]

hi all
i thought that ill throw an idea out
here it is as vee bearings are $$$
why not make your own from a rope pulley and skate bearing
i have not done this yet but it seems posiable to me
just get a pulley take it apart to get the yoke shaped part, bore it out to take a skate bearing. lock the bearing in place
do you see any problems with it ?
tom

[aggie_67]

Sounds like an excellent idea. I was thinking along the same lines but more complicated, using my lathe to make an outer shell to press on the skate bearing but your idea sounds great. Would also have a round profile to ride on a rod (backed up by plate.)

[Enraged]

I was looking at v-bearings, and they seem to sell for $15 each? for that price why not go with a thomson type ball bushing and linear shafts? nonhardened chromed shafting is less than $1/inch locally for smaller sizes.

[ger21]

Originally Posted by Enraged for that price why not go with a thomson type ball bushing and linear shafts? nonhardened chromed shafting is less than $1/inch locally for smaller sizes.

You can't use Thomson bearings on unhardened shafts. Not for very long, anyway.

[spalm]

Since we are talking cheap here, I always thought these looked interesting.

Steve

[aggie_67]

Went to Lowes to check on the pulley theory. Doesn't look feasible from what Lowes has, their pulleys have a reduced thickness through out the majority of the pulleys diameter, only getting thick at the rim and the hub. Not suitable for boring, etc. What does look feasible is a patio door pulley, has a inner bearing which may be the same size as a skate board bearing. Only downside the rope part is only 1/4" diameter, and they cost $3.00 each, plus the bearing cost.

[Enraged]

for hobby use in wood and plastics, where the loads arent very great, I think they would be adequate. A group of us at school are building a large gantry mill using thomson bearings, and once you get into 12 foot lengths of the 1.5" stuff, its not cheap anymore

Originally Posted by ger21 You can't use Thomson bearings on unhardened shafts. Not for very long, anyway.

[beone]

Hi
I made my own v bearings for my z axis. I cast blanks and machined them for two skate bearings. They seem to work very well, however, after making them I would be inclined to buy them next time.

[aggie_67]

beone,

Man after my own heart, but have to ask: why did you cast, then machine. My plan was to chuck up a piece of 1 1/2 or 1 3/4 rod in a lathe and do all the machining internal and external, then use a cut off tool and start all over again. All being done while chucked will make it concentric.

[beone]

My first hobby is an aluminum foundry, so I cast. Probably the number one use for my router will be patternmaking for the foundry

[rippersoft]

Why not cut a groove in small diameter skateboard wheels. These are made to take skate bearings and carry a load. Chuck the plastic wheel in a lathe and put a vee or half circle in the center after milling to size.

If you put a round in it, the wheel will roll on gas pipe. Use 100A, very hard plastic wheel. They run about $3 to $5 each for quality. These will be used on my next machine.

PS - Could also use rollerblade wheels, although these are a bit skinny. May still work.

RipperSoftware

[tomcook]

hi all
have been slaving away at work
anyway back to the topic
i went to the local boat supply shop
and found a thing called a sheave
looking at it it is viable but would need a lathe which i dont have
so back to looking for cheep vee bearings
at the moment its looking $350 nz for 8 bearings
man i need a new hobby
tom