Where to buy linear bearnings and rails?

FRFT 2019-01-08 15:12:06 UTC #1

Can anyone point me where I can buy some decent linear bearings to replace the 400mm long ones on my Y axis?
From searching around there is HiWin and Misumi and a bunch of knock offs on Amazon/Ebay. The high quality ones seem to be in the $300 each range and way out of my price range. I am worried about Ebay parts due to quality issues and not knowing what you get. Misumi and HiWin are sending me to their distributors and I am not getting a good respose when I inquire about a quantity of 2 rails.

I would love to find 2 rails for under $150 price point. Non sticky rails with decent tolerance.

What are some other suppliers that cater to the 3d crowd and may have decent parts?
Sorry new to this game and the ft5 bearing issue is killing all my free time so have not been able to deep dive for suppliers.
Thank you for your help.

Wyvern 2019-01-08 17:38:05 UTC #2

If folgertech has them, get them there or take a chance with Amazon.

I got a good set and silky smooth but stuff happens and you occasionally get a dud.

If you can manage it with your printer, print out some linear rail alignment tools, it will make sure they are perfectly square, you may just be fighting an alignment issue. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2368837

Also, try loosening the red caps on the bearings, if they are too tight, you will get binding.

S550Stang 2019-01-09 17:41:52 UTC #3

did you try McMaster-Carr?

FRFT 2019-01-10 16:39:19 UTC #4

@S550Stang I did. $180 for cartridge, and about $200 for the rail.

Found an outfit in Texas that has replacements with dual cartridges for $40, and ordered 2 rails. Hope they get here by the weekend.

I came up blank on ~$80/rail search. I think the way to do it is to find a good Ebay deal and design a printer around it - Some day!

S550Stang 2019-01-10 18:31:29 UTC #5

I worked in an engineering group that specialized in automation. You get what you pay for basically. so with us hobbyists, we live with what we can afford. Oh and always buy your bearings and rails as a set from the same manufacturer. Do you need the precision of a $200 rails? My opinion, no. But I dont need the 435hp my 5.0 puts out but its nice to have.. and therefore wont argue against you.

Misumi I believe will let you buy direct if you register with them. I dont think there is a min order either. We got quite a bit of rail/bearings and extrusion from them in the past. I would check ebay for brand names NOS parts etc.. Also, I dont know the design well enough on the ft5. can you add any side preload to take out the "loose" feel?

There is another way, where you loosen one rail, and you have these essentric screws next to the rail, in at least 2 places. You tighten down these screws and it puts a side load on the rail/bearing assy then tighten down the profile rail...

-Cheers

FRFT 2019-01-10 21:16:28 UTC #6

@S550Stang I don't think extreme precision is warranted as 3d printers squish out plastic and the tolerance on this is probably worse then even a medium grade rail. (Have not verified so tske this with a grain of salt)

@Wyvern I was going to and I checked with FT and they first offered a discount on replacements and when I said ok how much I got the link for full price website pricing. I honestly expected better service and quality from a US based company. These rails were bad from the get go, and have litterally killed all my project time in the second part of 2018.
So I will spend my money elswhere since the cheap rails we use are basically a gamble anyway.