1 Topic by Ballbe

  • Ballbe
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2015-05-08
  • Posts: 10

Topic: Workbench - Replace Bronze Bushings

Hello all,

Anyone have any experience with replacing the bronze bushings on the print bed? How are they set in place? I've been searching online, but I can't find anything. The soliwiki hardware page gives a link for purchasing them here:

http://www.ultibots.com/8mm-bronze-bearing-4-pack/

Mine seem to be way to stiff to auto align, so if its worth it, I'd like to replace them.

2 Reply by jagowilson

  • jagowilson
  • PRINTiT
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2014-09-14
  • Posts: 1,701

Re: Workbench - Replace Bronze Bushings

I don't know the answer to your actual question but the Z guide rods are an SAE size, not 8mm. I don't remember what they are though. You may consider replacing them with 10mm metric rods.

3 Reply by Ballbe

  • Ballbe
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2015-05-08
  • Posts: 10

Re: Workbench - Replace Bronze Bushings

Solidoodle sells some directly, but they don't give any further info.

http://www.solidoodle.com/parts-bearing-pack

Can they easily be replaced by bearings?

4 Reply by grob (edited by grob 2015-05-21 05:15:43)

  • grob
  • grob
  • Member
  • Offline
  • From: Sydney, Australia
  • Registered: 2014-01-02
  • Posts: 900

Re: Workbench - Replace Bronze Bushings

I am 90% convinced the rear rods are three eighths of a twelfth of the King's foot (9.53mm, if you use the customarily accepted King).

Replacing the bushings with ones from Solidoodle should be as easy as pushing out the old ones (may require a bit of force - judicious use of a hammer and a piece of wood with a hole in it is pretty good), and then pushing the new ones in (maybe be a bit gentler in this direction, tap with a wooden block or a nylon fitters mallet!).

I have not come across any common methods of mounting say linear bearings on the bed for the Z axis, so unfortunately you may have to design the application yourself (would be awesome if you'd share it and your experience with us too, if you do so). Given the current rods are close to 10mm, it would be easy enough to drill the holes in the frame out to 10mm and use 10mm metric  linear bearings and rails if one preferred.

SD3. Mk2b + glass, heated enclosure, GT2 belts, direct drive y shaft, linear bearings, bowden-feed E3D v5 w/ 0.9° stepper
Smoothieboard via Octoprint on RPi