Re: bearings or bushings? [TANKS]

[Rick Dulas <rick.dulas-at-oracle.com>]

Title:

I use both ball bearings and bronze oilite bearings in the things I build. Each obviously has its place. I usually consider the speed and load when deciding between the two. For high speed, ball bearings, and high loads, I use bronze. However, there is another source of ball bearings besides the high precision units that you might want to consider. These are "low precision" ball bearings found in things like wheel barrows and (wait for it)... Roller skates. Both inline skates (roller blades) and conventional skates have 2 bearings per wheel, which is 8 per skate. I've found inline skates with 8mm and 10mm axles and conventional skates with 1/4" and 5/16" axles. The inline skate bearings have a shoulder while the conventional skate bearing is the typical ball bearing. A sketch of the inline bearing is below. Around here, a pair of skates can be picked up at the local Goodwill/Mission/Salvation Army or equivalent for $2~$5.

And if you don't use the bearings in a tank, you can always use the wheels for something else. I have two hanging "tool panels" that use inline skate wheels and bearings running in an angle iron track in my shop. Each panel is a 4x8 sheet of 3/4" ply with tools hanging on both sides.




And if you don't use the bearings in a tank, you can always use the wheels for something else. I have two hanging "tool panels" that use inline skate wheels and bearings running in an angle iron track in my shop. Each panel is a 4x8 sheet of 3/4" ply with tools hanging on both sides.

Clark Ward Jr wrote:

Another drive-related question:  Is it worth the expense of installing
bearings in the roadwheels?  I've thought about it, but how much
difference in driveline friction does it make over, say, a plastic or
oilite bushing? (price difference between a needle roller bearing and
an oilite bushing is a factor of 10 (~$5 vs. ~$0.50 each)  The M60's
roadwheels will be cast plastic (smoothcast) with rubber "tires", and
I don't want to finish the plug before I make a decision on this.

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Rick Dulas, Ph.D. | Senior Service Delivery Engineer | 979.846.7713
Solution Support Delivery - Service Delivery Engineering SSC
707 Inwood | Bryan, TX 77802