Fully parametric customizable ball bearing, default to 608ZZ

⚙️ Fully Parametric Ball Bearing | Maximum Smoothness

📖 Introduction

Say goodbye to the jamming and fragility of fully 3D printed bearings! This is a fully parametric bearing generator, designed to work with various sizes of off-the-shelf steel balls, glass beads, or BBs

By combining 3D printed inner and outer races with industrial standard steel balls, you can achieve smoothness, load capacity, and service life far superior to all-plastic bearings. Whether you need to repair old parts or customize non-standard bearings for new designs, simply enter the dimensions and generate them with one click. The default dimensions are for a 608zz bearing with an outer diameter of 22mm, an inner diameter of 8mm, a thickness of 7mm, and using 5 balls with a 4mm diameter

✨ Updates

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2025.12.22: Feedback indicated that using smaller inner and outer diameters or materials with poor layer adhesion could cause the snap-fit tabs in the cage, designed for easy installation, to break. A snap-free version of the cage has now been updated and can be regenerated

✨ Model Features

• Ultimate Smoothness: Utilizes off-the-shelf metal or glass balls as rolling elements, significantly reducing friction compared to fully printed bearings
• Highly Customizable: Inner diameter, outer diameter, thickness, and ball size are fully customizable
• Smart Cage: Automatically generates a matching cage to lock ball spacing, preventing friction and displacement
• Enhanced Durability: Raceways bear force more evenly, resulting in less wear

The generated model consists of three parts: inner race, outer race, and cage

📐 Parameter Definitions

In MakerWorld's parametric adjustments, you can modify the following parameters to generate your model

• d1 (Outer Diameter): Outer diameter of the bearing's outer race (mm)
• d2 (Inner Diameter): Inner diameter of the bearing's inner race (mm)
• h (Thickness): Total thickness of the bearing (mm), thickness must not be less than ball diameter + 2mm
• a (Ball Diameter): Diameter of the ball you are using (mm), the diameter must not be greater than half the difference between the inner and outer races. Steel balls, glass beads, or BBs can be used, with 3-8mm recommended
• b (Ball Count): Number of balls to be filled (recommended to auto-calculate based on gap or manually adjust for appropriate density). Density can be custom adjusted, the ratio of balls to gaps must not be less than 1:2, 4-6 balls are recommended

🛠️ Additional Requirements

• Balls: Steel balls, ceramic beads, glass marbles, or high-precision BBs (steel balls recommended for best feel)
• Lubricant: Teflon lubricant or lithium grease (optional, further enhances quietness and smoothness)

🔧 Assembly Guide

This model uses the classic eccentric loading method, requiring no screws or glue

1. Insert: Place the printed inner race into the outer race
2. Eccentricity: Push the inner race to one side until the largest crescent-shaped gap appears on the other side
3. Fill with Balls: From the gap, individually place the balls into the raceway between the inner and outer races
4. Distribute: After all balls are in place, move the inner race back to the center and use a small tool to evenly distribute the balls within the raceway, ensuring equal spacing
5. Lock: Align the printed cage with the ball positions and slowly, evenly press it into the gap between the inner and outer races. The cage will 'click' into place, securing the balls
6. Lubricate: Apply a small amount of lubricant and rotate a few times

🖨️ Printing Recommendations

• Layer Height: Recommended 0.2mm or 0.16mm
• Infill: 3 walls, 15% or higher infill
• Material: PETG or Carbon Fiber filament, ABS/ASA (if temperature resistance is required)
• Supports: Not required