[DistortedDesign]

I am looking into making a good sized 3 axis system just like joes 4x4. He said that he went to using v-bearings and rails. I was looking around for v-bearings and rails and I couldn't find much of anything. I thought I found the v-bearings but from what I read they wanted $12.50 per bearing!!!!! Whaaa The rails were $0.17 per mm.... holy crap I am looking at making this cnc using 80/20, but if it was easier to use rails instead of pipe, I would like to do that but price is going to be an issue. Ohh and I don't have a cnc to machine parts so I will have to pay to have it done. So the rails would save me a ton of machining time.

I am looking for the v-bearings and rails but for a reasonable price to where it isn't going to cost me $300 for it.

I am looking for any suggestions, I am just on a budget, a fairly tight one.

[ger21]

$12.50 is for the knockoff china versions. You won't find them cheaper, unless you buy in bulk direct from China. There's an old thread here somewhere with info on that, but I think you had to buy at least 100. The Bishop Wisecarver ones run about $25-$30 each.

[Switcher]

You can save more money by grinding your own rails, they won't be hardend, but they will be low cost.

Also you can grind a few extras (backups) for close to nothing in cost.


1) http://www.mechmate.com/Forum/messages/11/3812.jpg

2) http://www.mechmate.com/forums/attac...1&d=1194372830

3) http://www.mechmate.com/forums/showthread.php?t=440


You might want to join the "MechMate" forum, Lots of great ideas on that site!


.

[ger21]

You can also run them on steel angle, which is dirt cheap.

[DistortedDesign]

What on gods green earth makes those bearings worth that kind of money. That is the most Asinine thing I have ever heard of. Why not have a machine shop make something that looks like that bearing and just put a small bearing inside of it. I thought I saw something like that.

[keebler303]

They are hardened and precision ground. They are accurate this way and they last a long time. Could you make some from steel bar? yes. Would they be as accurate or as durable, probably not, and if they are, you have probably spent more time/money than it costs just to buy them.

Matt

[Gerald_D]

The V-rollers from http://www.superiorbearing.com/ are made in the USA.

[DistortedDesign]

Too rich for my blood. I a going to have to use the standard bearings and gas pipe. I just don't have $300 for bearings.

[rippersoft]

Here's my 2 cents. I use 2 rollerblade bearings with a spacer between them to make a sorta v-bearing and run that on angle iron. You can use any size bearing for this and probably should look at bearings that can handle the stress that is put on them by riding on their edges.

OR you can by extra, cheap, rollerblade bearings and replace them every once in awhile. Same with the rails. This will depend on how much of a load your system is carrying and how much you use the system.

My "router" is a Dremel Advantage Pro and doesn't weigh much. the machine is based on a moving table and and stationary gantry. The table uses u-channel for the rails and the bearings ride on the lips.

Most important point is can you acheive repeatability with the system and does it cut square. Mine does.

Hope this helps.

RipperSoftware

[alexccmeister]

Hi Ahren, are the bearing using eccentric bushings to allow adjustment of play? Once done, will love to see some pics to have a feel of the real thing. What thickness plate would be required for the carriage? I am interested and might go for 8 carriage if its what I am looking for. When roughly would this be available? Thanks.

[DistortedDesign]

I just found something here in the forum where someone designed a system that ran on a rail but used standard bearings. I really like the idea of running on a rail. The only that causes me a problem with this system is that there is a custom designed metal piece where the bearing mount into. It has to be made of metal so I would have to have these made... ick... I just don't have the money for that but it gives me ideas on how to make one out of standard stuff.