WCD Bearing Blocks

[MichaelBick]

Originally Posted by craigboez

It sounds like there are two common ways to create the bearing block assembly.

1. 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.
2. 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.