DIY 3d printed ball swivel

[Sambista]

Sambista, I respect you because you are doing your own thing from the ground up, not copying somebody else's work.

If you have not ran into this yet, keep an eye out for it. Using PLA for the base is fine for prototyping work. But the low Tg of PLA will cause it to deform due to friction if you punch on it fast/hard/long enough. Investigating other tougher 3D filaments can be lots of fun

Thanks, Tom. That's kind of you to say.

I have ABS filament but no thermal enclosure yet, I also have PETG but couldn't get a good first layer. And I imagine shrinkage will differ at which point a couple of prints might be necessary to fine-tune the fit.

But I think in the short-term, I will just re-print in PLA the one I'm happy with to have some replacements ready to go.

Matt.

[dad]

Sambista, I respect you because you are doing your own thing from the ground up, not copying somebody else's work.

If you have not ran into this yet, keep an eye out for it. Using PLA for the base is fine for prototyping work. But the low Tg of PLA will cause it to deform due to friction if you punch on it fast/hard/long enough. Investigating other tougher 3D filaments can be lots of fun

I never cease to be amazed at the amount of collective knowledge there is on this site and the willingness to share it. Great

[rdshackleford]

Sambista, I respect you because you are doing your own thing from the ground up, not copying somebody else's work.

If you have not ran into this yet, keep an eye out for it. Using PLA for the base is fine for prototyping work. But the low Tg of PLA will cause it to deform due to friction if you punch on it fast/hard/long enough. Investigating other tougher 3D filaments can be lots of fun

[Sambista]

I have to ask, are you a wood worker? Is that a universal bench or a larger router table?

I used to make sawdust for fun, not so much recently. That's a "Paulk workbench", a plywood torsion box, local CNC shop did the grid of holes for me. It's 8'x4' in size, but I can hang it from the ceiling for zero floor footprint.

[dad]

I have to ask, are you a wood worker? Is that a universal bench or a larger router table?

[Sambista]

Hi, Tom. Thanks for your comments.

The list is endless.

I've settled on POM and PLA for now. I might tweak the "insertion depth" of the ball, as I call it, but thankfully I'm not designing for manufacture. Perhaps I'll learn or appreciate more about my swivel as I learn to bag... I'm certainly missing any direct bagging experience with which to evaluate prototypes... "it swings and it's quiet-ish" is a triumph for me.

I'm sure I don't appreciate even half how much work you and others will put in to producing something that takes all of those additional criteria and constraints into account, that you can stand behind and give back to others who share the hobby!

... the journey is always so much more fun than the destination.

You're right, dad... and there's more...

I've enjoyed making the swivel. And the new board. And it forced me to tidy a corner of my garage so I could install the board somewhere that made more sense. Which in turn has motivated me to clear more of the rest of the workshop and get it back to operation. Which will help to make making more things easier. And I've still to learn to bag and hopefully find some flow, and a release, and some shoulder rehab, and all of that.

So hopefully not withdrawl effects, just enabling the next thing...

Best wishes,
Matt.

[rdshackleford]

I don't get onto this forum much. This is the first time I have logged on in 4 or 5 months. That being said...
Sambista you are on the correct tract so far. You have to prototype and test, then prototype then test, then prototype then test, etc. ad nauseum.

I read the first couple of comments and the ball I use is Delrin, not Nylon. The secret is you have to match the materials that form the bearing surface. It can be metal-on-metal, metal-on-plastic, plastic-on-metal, plastic-on-plastic etc. And in each case the best solution is different. And that solution may have criteria based on your business model. Performance vs wear, strength vs failure mode. The list is endless.

I may not get on here for another few months, or never at all, who knows. But I just wanted to say cheers to all who strive to make a better swivel!
-ArcSwivel, aka rdshackleford, aka Tom

[dad]

Sambista, thank you so much for taking us on a wonderful journey through your project. You are very talented in may areas and I enjoyed watching you workout the process. Great job on the project and even better job on the post. Now is when someone of your knowledge of making things starts to feel the withdrawal effects because the journey is always so much more fun than the destination. Wonderful job.

[Sambista]

Thanks, zaza/DizzyD! Glad it was of interest.


I guess I'm actually finished... kind of all of sudden. Here's a few photos to wrap up...


Photo of prototype #9 installed:



Router-trimming one of the boards (old chipboard door):



A stack of two chipboard and one solid elm board, ready for roundovers and paint;



Putting it all together, I have my current setup:

[DizzyD]

Interesting to read through your process of creation! Keep going!

[Zaza]

very interesting stuff!

[paranday]

Replacement balls arrived today, sold as "POM". Currently running one in #5 and what a massive difference for me over nylon in terms of smoothness and noise. I'll print a new shape #8 later, with a few more adjustments.

Thanks again for the tip!

That's good to hear. Slippery stuff it is.

[Sambista]

I believe the ARC has an acetal ball.

Replacement balls arrived today, sold as "POM". Currently running one in #5 and what a massive difference for me over nylon in terms of smoothness and noise. I'll print a new shape #8 later, with a few more adjustments.

Thanks again for the tip!

[Sambista]

How about an Octagon shape like the Everlast swivels, My favorite swivels

Octagons are ok, I guess...

For now, I've picked an "equilateral curve heptagon" just to be different.

[Sambista]

paranday, thanks. I'll look into that.

dad, agreed, my shortcuts here are not ideal.