This is my first post here and, based on the registration process, I'm not sure if it's appropriate for me to post here. However, I could really use some advice from seasoned robot builders and mechanically oriented people.
I'm working on a kinetic sculpture that involves a savonius-type vertical axis wind turbine (
VAWT). I'm trying to build the base which is a lazy susan type contraption. I bought a
6-inch lazy susan bearing and assembled a lazy susan but the bearing doesn't spin freely enough and it's really loud. I need a smoother, quieter mechanism and was hoping to get some suggestions about what I should be using.
I've been looking into this for quite some time and my reading has led me to conclude that I need some kind of precision thrust bearing. Not being a mechanical engineer, I don't really understand how
these thrust bearings are installed for my type of machine. They have no housing, no screw holes and no set screws and are quite narrow. I therefore don't understand how to mount them and, although they would support axial load, I don't imagine they would provide any lateral stability at all. Would this type of bearing need one or more radial bearings to support my disk? Would a shaft through the center keep everything aligned properly? If my shaft tolerances are off, will friction result or possibly too much travel resulting in vibration and wear?
I imagine that I would need to attach my rotating disk to a shaft by means of a flange or hub of some kind and that the hub would rest on the top of the thrust bearing (on the thrust washer) which would support its weight. I can also imagine putting a radial bearing (like a pillow block bearing) a foot or so down the shaft to provide lateral stability. I've attached a drawing of my thinking.
There are also
tapered thrust bearings which look awesome (supports both radial and axial load!) but I fail utterly to see how I might attach these to either shaft or my turntable.
Any suggestions or help would be much appreciated.