Hey fellow makers!

Please note: These are just the 608 bearings, the extra fidget spinner that I used to show the spinning potential will be available here >>> [ https://www.crealitycloud.com/model-detail/680f896ebf737a7e52a3bc79 ].

Since diving into the world of 3D printing back in 2019 with my trusty Ender 5 Pro, I've been particularly captivated by the potential of 3D-printed bearings. Like many of you, I often found myself searching for designs that perfectly met specific requirements or offered consistent reliability.

That's why I decided to roll up my sleeves (pun intended! 😉) and embark on a journey of development, meticulous tweaking, and rigorous testing. After countless hours in the workshop, fuelled by a desire for a truly functional printed bearing, I'm thrilled to finally share my take on the ubiquitous 608 bearing – one that cleverly utilizes readily available 6mm airsoft BBs (specifically 5.95mm). It was quite the engineering challenge to pack those larger spheres into such a compact form factor, but the result, I believe, speaks for itself!

For those unfamiliar, a standard 608 bearing measures 8mm inner diameter x 22mm outer diameter x 7mm thickness. My design maintains these external dimensions for compatibility while innovating on the internal rolling elements.

I'm launching this initial design with three distinct tolerance options to cater to a variety of applications and preferences:

+0.07mm: The stability champion! This offers the tightest fit, resulting in minimal wobble and a very controlled spin. It's ideal for applications where precision and stability are paramount.

+0.1mm: The balanced all-rounder. This version strikes a comfortable middle ground, offering a noticeable but manageable amount of wobble and a decent free spin. It's a great general-purpose option.

+0.15mm: The fun and fidgety one! This tolerance allows for the most play between the BBs and the raceways, resulting in maximum wobble and the longest free spin. Perfect for low-load applications or creating satisfying fidget toys.

This is just the beginning of my exploration into printed bearings! If these initial designs prove popular within the maker community, I'm eager to explore more sizes and even different bearing types in the future. I've recently been dabbling with the complexities of tapered bearings, so definitely stay tuned for potential future releases!

If you're interested in giving these a spin (again, pun intended!), here are the links to the 6mm BBs I've been using throughout my testing. I've found that high-quality, polished BBs consistently deliver the best performance.

[Affiliate link to Amazon for 6mm BB's https://amzn.to/3YHuhbh ]

Every little bit of support through these affiliate links truly helps fuel future development and innovation in my workshop (and helps me recover from the sheer volume of prototypes that ended up in the waste bin!).

Assembling the bearing is straightforward:

Place the 3D-printed bearing on a flat surface with the two small cut-outs on the inner and outer facing each other.

Using a small tool (like a thin screwdriver or tweezers), gently spin the cage. This will reveal an opening to insert a BB.

Pop one 6mm BB into the opening.

Hold both the inner and outer races of the bearing.

Slowly spin the cage again, and you'll see the next opening appear. Insert another BB.

Continue this process until all the ball bearings are in place and the cage is full.

Here are a few extra tips and insights I've gained during this development process:

Prioritize a slow and steady print: Given the small and intricate dimensions of these bearings (just 22mm x 7mm!), a slower print speed is crucial. It significantly reduces the chances of print failures and ensures the dimensional accuracy needed for proper function. In my experience, a single bearing takes approximately 4 minutes to print with my current settings.

Cleanliness is key to smooth operation: I highly recommend using small diamond files to carefully remove any stray bits of filament, burrs, or imperfections from the printed surfaces, especially the raceways. This ensures smooth contact with the BBs.

[Affiliate link to Amazon for small diamond file set https://amzn.to/3YhTf0x ]

(Optional) Fine-tuning the raceways: For ultimate smoothness and optimal performance, I sometimes lightly polish the inner seam lines of the raceways using a mini rotary tool with a rounded diamond bit on a low speed setting. This helps the BBs glide even more freely. However, this step is entirely optional and the bearings should function well without it – it's just my inner perfectionist at play!

[Affiliate link to Amazon for mini rotary tool https://amzn.to/4jWjpyn ]

For the filament, I've consistently achieved excellent results with Sunlu PLA+ 2.0. It offers a great balance of strength, rigidity, and ease of printing.

[Affiliate link to Amazon for Sunlu PLA+ 2.0 filament https://amzn.to/4lRlWLW ]

Thank you so much for taking the time to check out my 3D-printed 608 bearing design! I genuinely hope these can be a valuable asset for your own creative projects (I'm currently using them in a custom-designed and printed cat wheel, which has been a big hit with my feline friend!) or simply as engaging, metal-free fidget toys.

Happy making, and I'm always open to feedback and suggestions!

If I have helped you with something consider showing me your support ❤️

https://paypal.me/cbprintspp

https://buymeacoffee.com/kamskiprints

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