Quote:
Originally Posted by nerdherdmember
Is that a 3d printed bearing block? How are you tensioning it? Does this save time/weight over an aluminum version? We on 422 are strongly considering a 3d printer for next year, and things like this make us want to take the plunge. Is this printed on something like a makerbot/reprap with ABS or PLA, or is it Ultem with some more commercial printer?
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Yep, 3d printed. We print all of our parts at home out of ABS with a uprint from Dimension. It doesn't save any real time, but it saves man hours which is helpful considering the tiny team we had this year. It might take ten hours to print a couple of wheels, but all those hours are passing while we're asleep

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The ABS portion of the bearing block is captured with two long screws between the two plates, and the frame tube is captured between the two plates. Tensioning is accomplished using that cam sitting next to it on the table (the cam is bolted onto the frame tube next to the block, rotating it either pushes the bearing block outwards or allows it space to move inwards).