Replacement bearings?
I've had a couple of these printers since they came out but like everyone else after a couple kg of material the quality dips substantially. While redoing the bed wiring I noticed the bearings were basically siezed on the bed and slowly cutting into the linear rods, but I haven't found a place that sells bearings like that or rods threaded like the originals. I don't want direct replacements since the quality wasn't there to begin with, but I do want to spend some money improving what is already a pretty solid little machine. I'm currently running them with igus bearings inside printed housings but the prints just aren't as sturdy as the aluminum. Any ideas for solid replacements?
Posted Aug 13, 2018, 7:18 PM UTC
66
Linear bearings like the ones used in this printer come in all sorts of qualities and are made by various manufacturers.
This website lists the types this printer uses: https://www.mpselectmini.com/parts/bearings
Now as for finding better quality bearings. The LM6LUU model is also used for ultimakers, they are of better quality. Sadly the bed is on a different type, namely the LM8LUU. You'll have to google around to find something.
I don't know where you are in the world, but they can be found on-line everywhere. No suggestions for a specific manufacturer, as I'm also in the process of finding replacements.
I'm familiar with the LM8LUU, and have nice ones on hand, but I haven't seen any way to swap the bearings that are currently in the housing, and I can't find the bearings already in the housing.
Gotcha, one guy in the facebook group for these printers (who is in contact with Malyan) placed a video on how he removes the pressure-fit bearings from the aluminium housing.
Here's a google drive folder with the pictures and a video: https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOa-yLNRZGRWJqCaJreeVLNZfC_rAN-HMek3T96js8x-I1EBgd-z2YyJrEFzQDC_w?key=UHNRXzNDTEpRNld0b0ZDSlI1ZUw0b2RkaW1kZ09n