A Better 608 Bearing

This is a practical, printed 608 Bearing suitable for many DIY projects (for example in a spool holder).

- It is a fully functional roller bearing with a proper working cage.

- It runs like a real bearing with a smooth action, tight fit & low friction.

- It has virtually no radial play, providing a predictable axle position in any assembly.

- It is a configurable assembled bearing, superior to print-in-place designs (and bushings).

- It is 100% printed, no hardware required.

- It is suitable for any regular 3D printer, and with straightforward assembly.

Short instructions (TLDR)

- PLA recommended

- Print the parts separately and then assemble them.

- Print with 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.15 mm layer height

- Random scarf joints on contours & inner perimeters

- Control/check the rollers for elephant foot

- Assemble the parts in sequence; Outer Race --> Inner Race --> Cage --> Rollers (with needle nose pliers) --> snap on Outer Cap snap --> snap on Inner Cap

Full description & instructions

Advantages

This assembled bearing is more practical than Print-in-Place designs (or Bushings):

- It has tighter fits, since it doesn't require printing clearances (unlike PIP).

- You can inspect & finish the running surfaces if needed.

- You can use different materials for the rollers (including FLEX!).

- You can optimize the rollers fit for your application, balancing tightness and friction. Different size rollers are included in the STL files.

Application Details

- Drop-in fit for any light 608 bearing application.

- Not intended for high velocity/force/heat applications; use a normal, purchased 608 bearing for that.

- It can handle decent lateral loads.

- The hollow rollers provide a little bit of elasticity; more traditional solid rollers are also available.

- Semi-enclosed back, with an option for a semi-enclosed front side (to keep lubricant in and/or dirt out)

Printing instructions

Print the parts separately and then assemble them together.

STL Files variants

All Combined STL File

The "All Parts - Print Layout" STL file is ready to print. It has all the parts in print orientation, with one extra roller (as a backup). The rollers are the "Solid Loose" variant and should work for most. If it is a bit loose try a tighter Roller, see below.

Individual STL Files for different Configurations

There are individual STL files to configure the bearing to your liking and application:

- Outer Race , Inner Race & Cage are always the same.

- Outer and Inner Cap in Regular (Open) and Semi-enclosed variants.

- Rollers

- Solid & Hollow variants

- Three sizes: Standard, Tight & Loose. You can also XY scale the rollers in the slicer to optimize fit.

Material choice