Vibration Analysis of a Hybrid Polymer Ball Bearing with 3D-Printed Races

Abstract

BackgroundThe use of polymer bearings in some industries has increased in recent years because of their advantages, such as resistance to dirt and dust, no need for maintenance and lubrication, and chemical resistance, especially in hygienic areas. Additive manufacturing (AD) or 3D printing is also a popular method that makes complex geometric shapes easily produced using polymer material, layer by layer, of the defined component.PurposeThe study aims to investigate the applicability of producing polymer ball bearing with additive manufacturing techniques by experimentally observing the bearing's vibrations, temperature, and rolling resistance.MethodsA set of ball-bearing races-inner and outer-are produced with the stereolithography (SLA) method using polymeric resin and tested under a certain load.ResultsVibrations and load cell data for rolling resistance are analyzed through its lifetime to investigate the evolution of the bearing under the test.ConclusionThe additive manufacturing method could be preferred to produce a ball bearing with limited life.