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Author Topic: Better bearings?  (Read 6465 times)

capthook

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Better bearings?
« on: November 08, 2008, 10:57:01 AM »
I'm looking for bearing recommendations and suppliers.

I've been using in-line/skateboard bearings for my projects.  They spin great, are easy to source and cheap.

The difference in spin among brands/ratings are significant.  An ABEC 1 is poor.  An ABEC 7 is much better.  But even 2 different brands of ABEC 7 will spin differently.
The BEST is Bones Swiss!
However, the bore size of skate bearings is small (ID- inner dimension): 8mm (about 5/16")
Now I'm looking for a bore size of 1/2" or 5/8".

I've tried a number of other bearings: pillow blocks, flange, trailer hubs, insert and needle. 
On a scale of 1 to 10, Bones Swiss is a 10,  ABEC 7 is a 7, then all these others are like a 2.
They are packed in heavy grease and are designed mostly for being driven by large horsepower.

So I'm looking for bearings with spin like the Bones Swiss - but have a bore size of like 1/2" or 5/8".

I get most of my stuff from:

MSC: http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRHM
and
Grainger: http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/start.shtml
and super priced pillow blocks etc. from
http://www.thebigbearingstore.com

Without having a bearing in my hand to spin - I don't know how it performs.

What bearings should I use?
Any bearings suit the bill from the links I gave?
Any other US supplier links?
What bearings have YOU had success with and recommend?
Comments?

Thanks!

nightlife

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Re: Better bearings?
« Reply #1 on: November 08, 2008, 04:38:01 PM »
 I too have been looking for the best bearings to use for a design I am building and it has led me in the direction of designing one that uses magnets in the place of bearings. I am not sure how well it will work or how long it will work but I am thinking of giving it a try.


capthook

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Re: Better bearings?
« Reply #2 on: November 09, 2008, 04:10:59 AM »
Interesting idea!  Magnetic bearings are the 'holy grail' for some.  Eliminating friction would make so many things possible!

The problem is keeping the shaft centered.
Current magnetic bearings use powerful, watt hungry electromagnets to accomplish this.
Achieving this with permanent magnets only would be awesome indeed.

Could you explain your pic a little more?  I don't fully understand.....especially the right side.

- - -
Finding lots of additional on-line bearing suppliers, with lots of bearing choices....... but again - without holding them - not sure how to make any selections.  As much $$ as I've spent over the last 2 years on different bearings - I'm not keen on getting any more crappy ones  :-\ (need some super-low drag for the attempt at OU)

The flange bearings I got last week ( 5/8" bore - self-aligning) might be fine for driving a fan in a chicken coop with a large electric motor, but the bearing quality and heavy grease means they turn pretty tight.

nightlife

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Re: Better bearings?
« Reply #3 on: November 09, 2008, 06:08:12 AM »
capthook, The right side picture is of a centering magnet that would be fastened to the shaft and there would be one for each side and positioned on the inside to keep the stationary shaft centered as well as to keep the other magnets aligned properly. The inner magnet of the two that would act as the bearing would also be fastened to the shaft and the outer would be fixed to the wheel that would be rotating. The pressure of the like poles would keep it all centered.

 

X00013

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Re: Better bearings?
« Reply #4 on: November 09, 2008, 06:16:48 AM »
google, "ceramic bearing", be prepared to pay $ 75 US or more a bearing assembly, 99.999999% efficientcy cost money!!!, well worth it when going for overunity.( I used them in my drag bike, (( worth 1/10 of a second in the quarter)) I used to get mine from a guy in New Jersey working third shift, custom made, any size or shape, the ceramic balls came from Japan and he would assemble them in his Jersey factory, on the side for cash. Its been some time ( lost his number). if you r interested and you have no luck on ur own, i can track him down. just pm me, give me a couple days

Michelinho

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Re: Better bearings?
« Reply #5 on: November 09, 2008, 06:22:09 AM »

Hi capthook,

You can get all kind of bearings on Ebay and the prices are ok. If you want bearings with less drag, wash the grease out and use light oil as lubricant. Cuts the drag by much.

Take care,

Michel

capthook

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Re: Better bearings?
« Reply #6 on: November 09, 2008, 06:32:34 AM »
night - thanks for the additional pic/description.  Cool idea in theory.  How to keep it perfectly centered as well as keeping the center mags rotating field from grabbing the end of the sides mags would be (some) of the problems to overcome?

Love to see a build!
- -
Michel - good idea.  The flange bearings I got are sealed but has a grease port plug.  I tried to mix in some light oil - didn't help.  Guess I should try washing it out - thanks

- -
X00 - yo!  Yea - ceramic bearings are SICK expensive!  You can go with just the ceramic balls - much cheaper (relative - $35 each and more).  Or go with a full ceramic unit.  Check this one out....
I guess you have really answered my question.  Want the best bearings... pay out the ass!  :D
I need 8 bearings (or 4 min.) - so maybe I should try the low-end model of ceramic balls for now....$$$
thanks

http://www.vxb.com/page/bearings/PROD/CeramicBallBearings/Kit7648
(huge selection bearing on-line site btw)

Part Number: Kit7648
Our Low Price: $490.00 (each)

P.S. think I'll call vxb Monday and see if they can't offer some ideas on what might be comparable to Swiss Bones for a reasonable cost.

Paul-R

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Re: Better bearings?
« Reply #7 on: November 09, 2008, 03:54:41 PM »
If you find a scrapped bicycle, and cut off the crank holding one of the
pedals, you have an astonishingly good bearing system. (Some small
or childrens bicycles have a nylon bearing of limited value).

Obviously, new pedals can be bought.

It is a shaft of length about five inches with a very good bearing at
each end, and the system is secured to the crank which could be
of further use.

These bearings will take a 15 stone man standing at a lever of around
9 inches. That is some torque.

nightlife

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Re: Better bearings?
« Reply #8 on: November 12, 2008, 04:53:56 AM »
 I had a hard time finding magnets with the polarity the way I wanted them so these are what I ordered.

http://www.kjmagnetics.com/cart.asp

3/4" od x 1/4" id x 1/4" thick
Grade N42 - Nickel Plated
Axially Magnetized
Pack of 1 $2.40 $2.40 

2" od x 1" id x 1/4" thick
Grade N42 - Nickel Plated
Axially Magnetized
Pack of 1 $13.50 

2" od x 1/4" id x 3/8" thick
Grade N42 - Nickel Plated
Axially Magnetized
Pack of 2 $33.70 

1" dia. x 1/4" thick
Grade N42 - Nickel Plated
Axially Magnetized
Pack of 10 $34.00 

 I will video my test results and post a link.

nightlife

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Re: Better bearings?
« Reply #9 on: November 13, 2008, 04:55:19 AM »
The magnets I ordered are not going to work because they will have to be radially magnetized as first pictured to work except for the end magnets on the shaft that will be used to keep the wheel centered. They need to be magnetized as ordered but the id needs to be just larger then the od of the magnet attached to the wheel.

 I just was playing with some other ones I already had and I found that it is too hard to keep them center the way they are magnetized.