DIY Spindle - What type of bearings are best suited for a spindle.

[Ross77]

If you are into making your own spindles then there is a very good book in the 'workshop practice series' surprisingly called spindles.....for less than a tenner

Basically you have radial and axial loads to resist, normal skate bearings are good for radial but not so good for axial so if you use a thrust bearing as well then you should be OK, the next limiting factor is speed which is where the angular contacts come into play. they can be used as singles in opposing pairs under tension or as a preloaded pair and are sold with a speed rating.

taper bearings I believe are mainly used for high load and high speed like on my lathe..

Like I said this is a basic overview and there are many other factors like excessive friction/heat and then expansion of the spindle etc. etc....

Regarding the bearings in an ic engine are probably a high grade and could be deep groove bearing, much stronger than a similar looking skate bearing. Bearing quality is usually reflected by the price but unfortunatly they all look the same.

[8iggles]

By taper bearings do you mean taper rollers like a car wheel bearing? I had ruled these out as I was thinking a car wheel bearing is quite slow speed and high load...Angular contact are they like a front wheel drive type of bearing where its ball bearings but a closed and open side to the outer race?
If I did them out of a common car taper wheel bearing then they could be universal to source and a reasonable price - the loads are going to be a fraction of a car its just the speed and keeping the dust out

The reason I wanted to make a spindle is to be able to have a speed control from the spindle board of the system 4 - I have worked out how to switch the dremmel on and off via the relay but want to progress and use an electric motor / speed controller from an electric model motor if this is possible

[8iggles]

Regarding the bearings in an ic engine are probably a high grade and could be deep groove bearing, much stronger than a similar looking skate bearing. Bearing quality is usually reflected by the price but unfortunatly they all look the same.

You are right about the quality, on the model engines the inner bearing is always a special order as its a big shaft size and the outside diameter is not that much more, but the outer bearing they always have and say its a common one - nothing special ... dead cheap and don't last like the originals

Thanks for the replies

[routercnc]

Hi 8iggles,

Knew I'd seen it somewhere, try this:
http://www.mycncuk.com/forums/showth...spindle-design

I just skim read it again and it might be just right for you given your mild loads. Based on a brushless motor intended for model aircraft, cars etc. These are all over ebay (Chinese).

Just off topic briefly, since you asked, the Avatar is my own design - called Precision3. A 1.9m span Patternship running from a 10s Lipo (36v), 2KWatt brushless motor, 100A Opto SC. 5.2kg all up weight, 2 years of design, CAD, hand cut out (pre-CNC m/c!), build, cover and fly. Maiden flight about 1 month ago. Wonderful flier with no downthrust, side thrust or incidence changes required. I'll not be at the green acres - bathroom project (but Cosford LMA is on!). OK, back to the spindle . . .

[8iggles]

Hi 8iggles,

Knew I'd seen it somewhere, try this:
http://www.mycncuk.com/forums/showth...spindle-design

I just skim read it again and it might be just right for you given your mild loads. Based on a brushless motor intended for model aircraft, cars etc. These are all over ebay (Chinese).

Just off topic briefly, since you asked, the Avatar is my own design - called Precision3. A 1.9m span Patternship running from a 10s Lipo (36v), 2KWatt brushless motor, 100A Opto SC. 5.2kg all up weight, 2 years of design, CAD, hand cut out (pre-CNC m/c!), build, cover and fly. Maiden flight about 1 month ago. Wonderful flier with no downthrust, side thrust or incidence changes required. I'll not be at the green acres - bathroom project (but Cosford LMA is on!). OK, back to the spindle . . .

Yes that looks just right - Mine will not be as posh as that but the size and motor choice looks right...he also talks of the z axis between the Y axis rails as I have done and the tube which is the plunging z axis bit will have the spindle built in it

Precision3 looks great - a lot of hard work... well done on the successful maiden. My son Ollie is flying with Steve Mallinder at CML, so if we go to Cosford I'll try and say hello (sorry off topic)

Thanks Shaun

[wiatroda]

Hi Shaun
In my DIY spindle I used 32004 single row taper bearings. ER20 chuck rotates at 3000rpm. For me it works better than expected. For details see my Web: http://malamuterun.co.uk/homemade_cnc_mill_spindle.htm . hope that helps

[Web Goblin]

I've been thinking about making my own spindle motor as well. I have a spare dc motor and amplifier lying around but had previously been quoted silly money for high speed bearings. I think those 7205B bearings from arceurotrade go up to 15000 rpm which will do the job.
I think I'll give them a call tomorrow to confirm and get some ordered if they do go that fast.
Thanks for the link.

Ian