Print #27 — The Print-in-Place Bearing: A Tolerance Challenge
Imagine printing a functional, rotating mechanical part in one go, without any assembly. The **Print-in-Place Bearing** is the ultimate test...
🎥 Recommended Video: How to 3D Print Bearings (Maker's Muse)
Imagine printing a functional, rotating mechanical part in one go, without any assembly. The Print-in-Place Bearing is the ultimate test of your printer's precision and your slicer's settings.
The concept
This model is designed with tiny gaps between the balls and the races. If your printer is well-calibrated, these parts won't fuse together, and the bearing will spin freely as soon as you remove it from the build plate.
Settings that matter
Precision is everything here. You need to dial in your Horizontal Expansion (or "XY Size Compensation") and ensure your flow rate is perfect. Even a 0.1mm over-extrusion can lock the entire mechanism.
Why it matters
Mastering "print-in-place" mechanisms is a game-changer. It allows you to design and create complex assemblies that are ready to use right off the bed, reducing assembly time and increasing structural integrity.
References
📁 Fully 3D Printable Bearing by alex_v_k
📺 Vidéo de référence (Maker's Muse)
Ready to layer up? → Spin your way into mechanical mastery with this print-in-place challenge!