I've been developing a gearbox for a new extruder.

3D Printing
, , , ,
1

I’ve been developing a gearbox for a new extruder. Are there any good hacks for bushings/bearings?

Things I’ve tried:

  1. Commercial sealed bearings- expensive and don’t come in the small sizes I need 1-2mm (1/16" or so) dia.
  2. Pop rivets- provide both axle and bushing, but lack a good axial retention method.
  3. Screws (+washers & lock nuts) - provide good retention, but need a bushing to prevent wear on gear holes.

631d2424612aa1b82302dc120453b6f0.jpeg
631d2424612aa1b82302dc120453b6f0.jpeg2976×3968 2.85 MB

acb16be6ed4af96052e4e21b8eff4b93.jpeg
acb16be6ed4af96052e4e21b8eff4b93.jpeg2976×3968 3.45 MB

870a1ffe55a09d3555930a3f57bf968c.jpeg
870a1ffe55a09d3555930a3f57bf968c.jpeg2976×3968 2.71 MB

2

682 bearings: 2mm x OD: 5mm x W: 1.5mm. I found 10 for US$6.10 on eBay.

3

@Jeff_DeMaagd ​ what do you use for axle?

4

You could try brass tube and an steel finishing nail. Nail head on one side and peen the other end. Why the offset rotation?

5

Eccentric pump rotor.

6

You can buy 2mm dowel pins. Screws can be an axle, depends.

7

Nylon washers can be used as low-wear shaft bushings. Cut a cylindrical pocket out of the part so it rides on the washer, and the washer rides on the shaft.

8

Kah