IanJohnson wrote:The holes are 1/2" so if you are going to a 1/4" rod, you could look for a 1/2" OD 1/4" ID flanged ball bearing and get smoother motion, maybe reduce backlash. McMaster has one - 57155K323
My idea here is to first upgrade my Y axis to MXL pulley with the FairLoc(TM) hubs. To confirm that it works as I expect. Then to upgrade all the belts on that Y axis to urethane/Kevlar and see how that works out. Then change out the belt and gear pulleys between the Y stepper and the shaft above it to a GT2 belt which should reduce the backlash about 1/2. For that I'll use a bore reducer(s) as most of the GT2 belts and gears are Gates Power Transmission parts and on inch measurements for the bore.
If all else fails then everything is going to GT2 belts. I can always put the existing gear pulleys into something else.
If GT2 belts don't reduce the backlash on this then there's no sense in messing with that anymore.
If everything is GT2 belts it only makes sense to use 1/4" shafts on everything and toss the bore reducers.
Danger: 'Addams Family' sense of humor.