What filament type would be best for this application?
Hello,
I am printing a cylinder shaped object that slides onto a vertical shaft, and then a second cylinder object slides on the shaft and spins on the first object. The bottom cylinder is stationary and the top one spins. The top cylinder carries a load of 30lbs or so. I am currently printing with PETG and have had some success. If the top cylinder spins very fast it does cause some noticeable wear to the bottom cylinder. I am essentially printing a bearing that rides on a spin surface.
My question: Of all the printable filaments what is best for this functional part? I would like to keep using PETG, especially for the top cylinder if possible. But if there is a filament that offers significantly better properties I would like to try it. A low friction coefficient is desired and abrasion resistance. I thought about nylon, abs, asa? all compared to petg.
Also if I keep using PETG, are there any other design considerations to allow the top cylinder to spin freely? As you can see the bottom spin surface has 3 contact points which reduces the surface contact area by about %50. In slicer I made the top portion with 6 perimeters so that its near %100 material hoping that will help it wear slower.
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Jordan T
RE: What filament type would be best for this application?
Nylon?
RE: What filament type would be best for this application?
Hello,
I am printing a cylinder shaped object that slides onto a vertical shaft, and then a second cylinder object slides on the shaft and spins on the first object. The bottom cylinder is stationary and the top one spins. The top cylinder carries a load of 30lbs or so. I am currently printing with PETG and have had some success. If the top cylinder spins very fast it does cause some noticeable wear to the bottom cylinder. I am essentially printing a bearing that rides on a spin surface.
My question: Of all the printable filaments what is best for this functional part? I would like to keep using PETG, especially for the top cylinder if possible. But if there is a filament that offers significantly better properties I would like to try it. A low friction coefficient is desired and abrasion resistance. I thought about nylon, abs, asa? all compared to petg.
Also if I keep using PETG, are there any other design considerations to allow the top cylinder to spin freely? As you can see the bottom spin surface has 3 contact points which reduces the surface contact area by about %50. In slicer I made the top portion with 6 perimeters so that its near %100 material hoping that will help it wear slower.
Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Jordan T
If you want to use nylon, I can recommend this one: https://www.3dxtech.com/product/carbonx-pa6-cf/
Statt zu klagen, dass wir nicht alles haben, was wir wollen, sollten wir lieber dankbar sein, dass wir nicht alles bekommen, was wir verdienen.
RE: What filament type would be best for this application?
a second cylinder object slides on the shaft and spins on the first object. The bottom cylinder is stationary and the top one spins. The top cylinder carries a load of 30lbs or so.
the bottom spin surface has 3 contact points which reduces the surface contact area by about %50.
How continuous is the rotation? How fast? What is the duty cycle? What are you using for lubricant?
Oh, and is there appreciable friction with the vertical shaft?
With a heavy rotor on a friction bearing you must avoid local melting of the filament.
I generally avoid PETG for bearings; for most I use PLA and with this sort of load I would consider designing a roller race.
If PLA doesn't work skip straight to engineering class nylon.
I am also experimenting with metal filled filaments where there is a need to dissipate heat. Early tests are encouraging.
Cheerio,
RE: What filament type would be best for this application?
Nylon is the best I think.
But could you change the design, and put real bearings in it.(often skate bord bearings are used with 3d printing).
Search on internet for examples of bearings. Can you make the model bigger? to put a bearing in it.