Hello,
I have a control shaft with these properties:
1. It has stuff welded on both ends that preclude conventional bearing installation (bearing id 1.3125 too small to pass over stuff at ends).
2. The shaft is used by a human operator and travels slightly less that 45 degrees stop to stop as the operator rotates the shaft with a lever (somewhat like a tiller)
3. It would be a good thing if the operator had a nice real anti friction bearing in place of the harsh sticky bushing solution in place now.
I'd like to experiment with taking a full compliment bearing (MS27646-42G just fyi) and making two cuts in the races so I can split each bearing race into two semi-circles. Then I'd reassemble the bearing around the shaft and hope that the limited rotational travel and careful positioning of the cutlines would allow the bearing balls to either
- not ever hit a cut, or
- if they do hit it the kerf from the cut is so small there's no noticeable detent effect.
From what I can tell from the specs and in speaking with the bearing engineer at the bearing house there's plenty of margin in thrust and radial.
So, is this something that would best be attempted with WEDM? The only other things I can think of are to use an abrasive or slotting saw like approach and then try to grind the race halves to fit up nicely. This might require the kerf be put on one side of the ideal cut line and make matched bearing races from a pair of donor races.
It could turn out the 15 or so kerf from WEDM would not work but I'd like to just try and see.
I think the first shot would be just a direct cut and hence pretty easy setup but don't know any WEDM places I can ask.
Thanks
f
I have a control shaft with these properties:
1. It has stuff welded on both ends that preclude conventional bearing installation (bearing id 1.3125 too small to pass over stuff at ends).
2. The shaft is used by a human operator and travels slightly less that 45 degrees stop to stop as the operator rotates the shaft with a lever (somewhat like a tiller)
3. It would be a good thing if the operator had a nice real anti friction bearing in place of the harsh sticky bushing solution in place now.
I'd like to experiment with taking a full compliment bearing (MS27646-42G just fyi) and making two cuts in the races so I can split each bearing race into two semi-circles. Then I'd reassemble the bearing around the shaft and hope that the limited rotational travel and careful positioning of the cutlines would allow the bearing balls to either
- not ever hit a cut, or
- if they do hit it the kerf from the cut is so small there's no noticeable detent effect.
From what I can tell from the specs and in speaking with the bearing engineer at the bearing house there's plenty of margin in thrust and radial.
So, is this something that would best be attempted with WEDM? The only other things I can think of are to use an abrasive or slotting saw like approach and then try to grind the race halves to fit up nicely. This might require the kerf be put on one side of the ideal cut line and make matched bearing races from a pair of donor races.
It could turn out the 15 or so kerf from WEDM would not work but I'd like to just try and see.
I think the first shot would be just a direct cut and hence pretty easy setup but don't know any WEDM places I can ask.
Thanks
f