Quote:
Originally Posted by craigboez
It sounds like there are two common ways to create the bearing block assembly. - Use two sideplates and a block of aluminum. The bearings go in the aluminum block, the sideplates hold it all together and clamp it in place. The machining for this setup is relatively simple.
- The two sideplates become the bearing block and are constrained coaxially with a short piece of thick walled tubing that connects them. The machining for this setup is comparatively complex.
Is that a fair statement? If so, what are the benefits to method #2? |
The biggest benefit to #2 is weight. We've gone both routes(2012 #1 using sponsors because we didn't have a mill in house, 2013 #2 buying from WCP). If you have a CNC #2 is fine, but it isn't necessary by any means. You can do #1 super simply. When we did it, we didn't even do chamfers on the center block and our sideplates could have been made with a chopsaw. Depending on your teams resources you can make the blocks marginally more complex(chamfering the blocks means you don't have to file as much later, waterjetting sideplates is a small weight savings and they look a bit nicer). Either way works, and the method you choose completely depends on your team and its resources.