Linear bearing fail
Note the user comments on this spare parts page: https://www.prusa3d.com/product/linear-bearing-lm8uu/
I saw these comments on the Prusa spare parts page about the low quality of these bearings. After a few weeks of printing with replaced bearings my X axis is broken again. The bearings sound like they are grinding. What has been your experience? Is there a better source from which to purchase them?
We see a trickle of complaints about linear bearings but Prusa have shipped several million so the failure rate is very low.
What are you using to lubricate your smooth rods?
Cheerio,
RE: Linear bearing fail
Fact is that, some time ago, Misumi bearings disappeared from Prusa's e-shop. They only offer now cheap no-brand units of dubious quality. I suspect therefore that assembled printers and kits come with those cheaper bearings too.
Misumi LMU8 units are on stock in other places (Amazon, Caribou/Zaribo..) so it's not a question of supply problems but of cost savings, I expect.
RE: Linear bearing fail
I use the original lubricant shipped with the mk3s+
RE: Linear bearing fail
I wonder how many of the "several millions" shipped before/after "Misumi bearings disappeared?"
RE: Linear bearing fail
assembled printers and kits come with those cheaper bearings too
The current product description for MK3S+ says the machine comes with "high quality bearings", so they cannot supply any cheap trash.
Could be that they now have 2 or more alternative suppliers and therefor do not define the exact brand.
RE: Linear bearing fail
Not trash maybe, but if the current 'no-name' ones cost 2 euro each and Misumis were 8 euro, surely there's a noticeable difference in quality.
If I needed right now LMU8 bearings I'd get Misumis and not an unspecified brand.
I wonder how many of the "several millions" shipped before/after "Misumi bearings disappeared?"
IIrc the Misumi bearings were a replacement due to supply problems ... 5 or 6 years ago the discussion topic was whether to fit Misumi which were considered noisier than Prusa stock bearings or to shell out for much higher priced SKF parts.
Cheerio,