- Joined
- Jul 25, 2007
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- 1,380
Follow-up on this post https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/i-need-some-outside-the-box-ideas-for-platen-wheels.1723097/ (Background: I need a way to change out bearings in 5-mins or less, without replacing the wheel itself, with all stainless hardware).
My idea for slip-fit bearing pockets has been working great. For platen idler wheels, my machinist made them out of 1-piece solid stainless. When the bearings start to go, I remove the wheel, pop out the old bearings by hand, replace with new bearings. For the contact wheel, I sent my machinist a cheap 12" wheel from Ameribrade, he bored out the center, and pressed in a stainless insert (which he made) that has slip-fit bearing pockets.
As for mounting, the primary fastener is a 1/2" diameter stainless precision shoulder bolt. It's a bit oversized (in length) so on the mounting/thread side, I have a 1/2" ID bronze bushing as a spacer. To keep the wheel pressed against that bushing, I have a stack of washer/O-ring sandwiches under the bolt head - these act like a Belleville washer or spring and allow me to crank down on the bolt without squeezing the bearings. I was worried about deflection on the contact wheel but it's been solid.
My idea for slip-fit bearing pockets has been working great. For platen idler wheels, my machinist made them out of 1-piece solid stainless. When the bearings start to go, I remove the wheel, pop out the old bearings by hand, replace with new bearings. For the contact wheel, I sent my machinist a cheap 12" wheel from Ameribrade, he bored out the center, and pressed in a stainless insert (which he made) that has slip-fit bearing pockets.
As for mounting, the primary fastener is a 1/2" diameter stainless precision shoulder bolt. It's a bit oversized (in length) so on the mounting/thread side, I have a 1/2" ID bronze bushing as a spacer. To keep the wheel pressed against that bushing, I have a stack of washer/O-ring sandwiches under the bolt head - these act like a Belleville washer or spring and allow me to crank down on the bolt without squeezing the bearings. I was worried about deflection on the contact wheel but it's been solid.