3D printed belt sander idlers?

O

Ofek O.

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Jul 15, 2019
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While looking for a low cost solution for wheels for my belt sander project, I had the thought of 3D printing them. I would print them out of a heat resistant material like PETG and not PLA, and will insert bearings into them. I didn't see anyone with printed wheels, but I did see some people with rubber and skateboard wheels, so I think it has a solid chance of working.
Does someone know if this is a bad idea or not?
Thanks.
 
What is the hardness/durometer of the plastic you will use? Also, how wear resistant is it?

There are some things where trying to save a few dollars on a home build are not worth it. Baby car seats, brakes on a car, tires on airplanes, and the wheels on a grinder are a couple of those things.
 
I’m sure there are plastics that would hold up for a decent amount of use, but I doubt if any would outlast aluminum. Not to say it isn’t worth trying, but a you can get some pretty nice wheels for pretty cheap now days.
You do have me curious though!
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
What is the hardness/durometer of the plastic you will use? Also, how wear resistant is it?

There are some things where trying to save a few dollars on a home build are not worth it. Baby car seats, brakes on a car, tires on airplanes, and the wheels on a grinder are a couple of those things.
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about 95A.
I have a 1x30, so i'll print an idler out and try it on that one, see how quickly it will fail. I'll follow up with the results when I get around to testing it.
 
How suitable the printed wheel will be depends on the use. For a commercial shop that's running 8 hr/day, 5 & 6 days/wk - nope, don't think it would work very well at all. For a hobby like myself that uses the grinder a few hrs each week, it might work, all depending on the plastic. Also, consider the cost of the plastic you're using - that stuff is pretty expensive and wheels are fairly in-expensive these days. I see you're in Israel and that might make a difference. I've been using skateboard (longboard) wheels for platen wheels on a couple of 2X72 grinders and they hold up nicely. I've also made a couple of wheels from HDPE rod that seem to be working nicely. Got a real deal on a 6 ft piece of 4" diameter for $18 shipped a couple yr ago.
 
95A ... I'm impressed. That is a pretty hard plastic. Is it brittle at that hardness?
 
Drew Riley said:
I’m sure there are plastics that would hold up for a decent amount of use, but I doubt if any would outlast aluminum. Not to say it isn’t worth trying, but a you can get some pretty nice wheels for pretty cheap now days.
You do have me curious though!
Click to expand...
On one grinder I have wheels from Micarta , they will outlast Aluminium or steel one wheels by ten .BUT bearing create temperature ............and bearing in my Micarta wheels are always hot , I mean really HOT which is not good in long run. Al or steel wheel will take over that temperature from the bearing ..Micarta or plastic can t do that .....so metal rule here if you ask me .
 
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Just buy a pre made aluminum wheel off eBay. I bought one because I was in a pinch and it was like $20-$30. Highly impressed with the quality for that price. I would not even turn one on the lathe with them at that price, my time is worth more then that.
 
Natlek said:
On one grinder I have wheels from Micarta , they will outlast Aluminium or steel one wheels by ten .BUT bearing create temperature ............and bearing in my Micarta wheels are always hot , I mean really HOT which is not good in long run. Al or steel wheel will take over that temperature from the bearing ..Micarta or plastic can t do that .....so metal rule here if you ask me .
Click to expand...
If the bearings are getting hot in your wheels something is wrong in the way the bearings are setup. Should not get hot at all - max would be mildly warm.
 
Ken H> said:
If the bearings are getting hot in your wheels something is wrong in the way the bearings are setup. Should not get hot at all - max would be mildly warm.
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I don t know Ken , I check them several times sims everything is OK .They spin free when I turn them by hand . Bearings are SKF 6301 C4 or C3 I don t remember . Maybe speed is reason , 7400 FPM is qute fast .Or lack of grease . i will check that tonight . You know what , I will measure temperature precisely this days . I have access for SKF thermo camera but I know they are qute hot , probably around 100 Celsius .
 
"7400 FPM" Never mind, this is a small 2" wheel and the belt speed is 7400 SFPM. That sucker is spinning! I can see why it's getting hot.
 
Not sure if this fits what you describe, Natlek, but in my experience with other tools, bearings that keep spinning and spinning too easily can mean they lack propper grease for running properly under load, just like you don't want them over packed with grease. This is more with the bearings out so there isn't a wheel as a flywheel.
 
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