Bearing (Ball race)

thingiverse

A Custom 3D Bearing Design in FreeCad. This was an experiment to see if a single, high-quality bearing could be printed using modern technology. This innovative bearing was my very first attempt at designing and printing an object with precision engineering. The initial version featured 12 balls, but it had some rough edges. I successfully increased the number of balls in the next design to 14, resulting in a significantly smoother operation. Initially, I attempted to print the bearing using ABS, but the results were disappointing due to the balls breaking away and sticking to the extruder during the printing process. In contrast, printing with PLA yielded much better outcomes. To ensure a successful print, you must use supports to hold the balls in place within the frame while printing. The extent of attention given to removing these supports from the balls directly impacts the bearing's overall performance. A more meticulous approach will result in a smoother running bearing.