The quest for cheap components!

Hi, I just wanted to see where everyone got their basic components for mechanical projects. I am constantly searching for cheaper and better ways to make these components. These are some components that make up most of the price for making a machine like the reprap, or a CNC milling machine. I think if we find cheap, reliable sources for each of these components, we will have a base from which to make many different machines without worrying too much about cost. I know there are many clever solutions for each of these all over reprap and other websites, and it would be awesome if they were all combined into one place. So if you have a solution to one of these, or you found someone elses solution, please post it here and we can begin making a library of these ideas that will help people build cheaper, better machines. If you post someone elses solution, just make sure to include the original inventors name. Please only post solutions that have been tried and work! Also, if you find a cheap premade source of one of these, post it.

A list of components essential for many machines:

Motor couplers
Belt pulleys
Belts
Linear bearings / slides
Ball bearings
Leadscrews
Leadscrew nuts
Motor encoders
Motors
Gears

That is all I can think of now. Post others and I will add it to this post. As people add solutions, I will take the best ones and add them to a website. That way we have a whole library of creative solutions that anyone can access without having to sift through forum posts. The website name is
Crafty Solutions

The 'EvaNut' - cheap, DIY zero backlash leadscrew nuts: [bbs.homeshopmachinist.net]

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[haveblue.org]

I found that Tamiya model TL01 radio control cars have 24 11mm outer Ø, 5mm inner ball bearings, and bought two sets for $40 locally. VXB also offers them at that price.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/01/2010 06:42PM by murrayd.

and it would be awesome if they were all combined into one place.

Yup. I agree completely.

Perhaps a new page in the wiki?

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-Sebastien, RepRap.org library gnome.

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Remember, you're all RepRap developers (once you've joined the super-secret developer mailing list), and the wiki, RepRap.org, [reprap.org] is for everyone and everything!

I am not that great at editing wikis. I think the website is better because the library isn't only for reprap. It is also for other builders. I am just posting here because I know a lot of the people here have some really cool tricks up their sleeves from working on all this stuff.

Also, I just posted instructions on how to make a motor coupler from a coupling nut. I use this on my milling machine and it works great. Just look on the website above.

I know there are many clever solutions for each of these all over reprap and other websites, and it would be awesome if they were all combined into one place

We've got a good thing going here:
http://reprap.org/wiki/Stepper_Motor
so let's keep going:
http://reprap.org/wiki/Motor_Couplers
http://reprap.org/wiki/Belt_Pulleys
http://reprap.org/wiki/Belts
http://reprap.org/wiki/Linear_Bearing
http://reprap.org/wiki/Ball_Bearings
http://reprap.org/wiki/Leadscrews
http://reprap.org/wiki/Leadscrew_Nuts
http://reprap.org/wiki/Motor_Encoders
http://reprap.org/wiki/Gears
http://reprap.org/wiki/DC_Motor
http://reprap.org/wiki/Geared_Motor

I think the wiki is better because the wiki isn't only for reprap.
hmmm ... We've got ~10 machines in this here RepRap library for other builders:
http://reprap.org/wiki/T-Slot
They may be ideologically impure non-RepRaps, but I love them.
And I am cheerleading my little buns off to get developers like you to use the wiki, rather than mirroring, forking, and nesting. Unless you believe thats to not contributing to reprap, and encouraging others to do the same, is actually help.

Regarding parts for T-Slot machines, I just wish we had solutions that have been tried and work! Also, if you find a cheap premade source of one of these posted in the wiki.

I am not that great at editing wikis.

Which part are you having difficulty with?
Log in, click edit: and add:

[[Wiki Page|Internal Link|]
and
[http://example.com|External Link]

hint: Internal links are much better than external links. (aka: the wiki, she is for original research, she is not a link farm)
(it would be awesome if they were all combined into one place)

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/02/2010 03:16AM by SebastienBailard.

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-Sebastien, RepRap.org library gnome.

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Remember, you're all RepRap developers (once you've joined the super-secret developer mailing list), and the wiki, RepRap.org, [reprap.org] is for everyone and everything!

For which continent/country/state/city? There's a LOT of places out there and in some cases a local place can be significantly cheaper than somewhere online, usually due to shipping. Compiling a world wide list would be a logistical nightmare, on a wiki or not, unless it's broken up by location. We'd be talking hundreds of thousands of suppliers.

BTW: I've spent a lot of time updating the Melbourne Rug wiki page with lots of supplier details, and I encourage all the Rugs to do the same.

I know.

RepRap never does things in a systematic manner. We're an adhocracy.

RUGs are probably the best way.

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-Sebastien, RepRap.org library gnome.

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Remember, you're all RepRap developers (once you've joined the super-secret developer mailing list), and the wiki, RepRap.org, [reprap.org] is for everyone and everything!

Actually I was thinking that it wouldn't be that much pre-made stuff, but mostly home made solutions adapted from readily available items. For instance, the idea to press two halves of delrin over a leadscrew to make a nut, or using a coupling nut as a motor coupler, or a cheap way to make linear bearings. Things that can be made by anyone without any fancy machinery.

The problem with the wiki is I have to write everything in html. On freewebs, its all GUI and easy to edit.

By the way, I am looking for a way to make a stepper motor from scratch. Anyone done this before? I don't think it would be that hard. It just needs magnets on the stator, and coils on the outside. The hardest part is probably the bearings, and getting the whole thing centered. I am thinking maybe two PVC pipes. One smaller one for the stator, and a larger one for the outside with the coils. The bearings could be inserted in the end caps.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/02/2010 04:02PM by galaxyman7.

I also gave some consideration to approaching it the other way, with some sort of quantum escapement for a DC motor, or a hydraulic or pneumatic servo.

Just to add it here...

I found skateboard bearings from old roller blades had skateboard bearings and one pair also had nylon bushes. I intend to use the bushes for the X & Y carriages.

I found round-bar (various sizes including 6mm) from old printers and old laser cartridges. Some have rubber sleeves which can be cut off and cleaned with coarse steel wool.

Here is my link Cluso's Micro-Mendel variant...

For linear slides, I have used teflon lined bushings from amazon. They work quite well on smooth rod and are very cheap, especially when on sale (5 for .44). The same store has tons of other sizes and other cool stuff. Plus if you spend 25 dollars or more, you get free shipping.You can find them here:
amazon

I just epoxied them into some holes on the side of my axis. You just have to use a hole saw to cut out the holes, and then keep sanding it until the bushing fits into it snugly and the rod passes through smoothly. To sand it, I actually just used double sided tape and some sandpaper around the hole saw itself. It worked perfectly, and evenly sands the hole. You can make it larger by adding more layers of tape.

Also, the same seller on amazon sells extremely cheap belts and pulleys. Here is a 519 mm long (20.4 in) belt for 0.16:
amazon

Here is the pulley for only 0.44
amazon