Improving dirt cheap linear rail guides & blocks

[@ConspiredOne]

You can replace the first one with real 3/32 ball bearings from a hardware store. Clean and grease and it will take care of a lot of wobble or play. Brake clean is my go to for cleaning. 3 in one makes a great grease to use. Phyfe is ok but grease works better and more quiet. Great information to share buddy. Thanks for helping

[@dherrendoerfer]

Yes, this works quite well, if the carriage is loose.

[@Somun-a]

@@dherrendoerfer I think it would be nice to suggest replacing the ball bearings for a loose fit. They are easy to obtain in different sizes. An annotation in the video would possibly help some folks.

[@andrearetel4557]

I bought a set of rails and while they slide great when I opened them, after replacing the bearings, they no longer slide well at all. When I looked at the retainer clip, I can see that it's bowed in at the center. That's what's preventing the bearings from running smoothly through the track. So if I do your little trick to slightly bend the retainer clip, that should help? Thanks. :)

[@dherrendoerfer]

yes it might help, the clips steel should not make hard contact with the balls, it will just grind them down. The blocks are usually paired to the rails, if you switch them they might not work well. That only works for the quality machined ones.

[@liquidrockaquatics3900]

I know it’s been three years, but the clips that hold the balls are just retainer clips. They should not have any tension against the balls. Nobody likes tension against their balls. The balls should be held loosely.

[@jujucattys156]

Can you mount 2 sections of rail end-to-end to get a longer run or does that result in an bumps/innacuracies as the carriage crosses the joint between two rails?

[@dherrendoerfer]

Yes you can. You need to be very exact, but it's been done before.

[@Side85Winder]

I have seen a few of these videos now and a few different ways of fixing them to be better. You have a very good insite to some of the issues thats good to know about. Other ways i have seen with the lose ones some times the balls are slightly out of spec you can order higher precision balls. The extra tight ones i wouldn't discard you could try polishing the contact surfaces as this would remove a very very small amount of material. I would say a tight one i would be more hopeful than a lose one to fix.

[@dherrendoerfer]

Yeah, there's no fixing a loose one, except by re-balling them, but I've never had success with that.

[@TorteTS]

In my opinion the sealing on both ends prevent the grease to come in. Is there a reason why you don’t lubricate when it’s open?

[@dherrendoerfer]

I've never thought of it that way - but the rails always greased up fine with proper bearing grease, and that only needs to wet the surfaces.

[@julianhcuestas]

Hi. How much play must have linear bearing with rail? Should it have some play, or should it be completely rigid?

[@dherrendoerfer]

It should be rigid to the point where it has no free play in the rail. Yet, it should move without binding up.

[@looselycollected7505]

I have a few questions, 1) how many of the balls should be in each of these slides? 2 ) will white lithium or PTFE lube work on these for lubing them?

[@dherrendoerfer]

I don't know the number of balls, but there is a free space of about three to four balls in total going round.

[@looselycollected7505]

@dherrendoerfer so basically enough to leave a gap of 3-4 balls each side and not full. Gotcha.

[@ulariv1701]

I have an idea that could save me about 1000 euros, and they can be as bad as they are. Only thing I need to know, do they work when its a pulling load? Basically rails are bolted down, and load is pulling up and do bearings work then?

[@dherrendoerfer]

Under load they work, they just don't last long.

[@MF175mp]

The HG series rail is meant for heavy load in any direction

[@psychrave]

Does anybody know what these blocks are rated at for load (weight)? I'm looking at them on Amazon to use on a flattening router jig that I want to make. Thanks for any help!

[@dherrendoerfer]

Hiwin has a number of charts on their website regarding the static and dynamic loads that the blocks will take - the numbers are surprisingly high ...

[@saschathiede]

What do you think of PTFE spray to lubricate them?

[@dherrendoerfer]

PTFE spray creates a glide film, it may work well, but the linear bearings are bearings after all and usually require grease.

[@lukecunningham8793]

where exactly are you buying these? great video

[@dherrendoerfer]

I've ordered from banggood and aliexpress , but mostly from banggood

[@lukecunningham8793]

@@dherrendoerfer nice do you have any specific stores or links you buy from.

[@recurveninja]

@@lukecunningham8793 If you're still looking, try BST Automation on Aliexpress.

[@lukecunningham8793]

@@recurveninja thank you!

[@mayank1849]

Buy from us we are authorised dealer of THK, contact me on [e-mail]

[@grindel80]

Please tell us what is the use of This Things?

[@dherrendoerfer]

I'm using them for this: github.com/dherrendoerfer/The-Robin-3D-Printer-Project/blob/master/STL-Files/Bad-Robin/README.md Many of them ...

[@linandy1]

Thanks ! I will fix mine

[@linandy1]

So, it turns out that one of my rails inner grooves was not cut enough and the little metal ball retainer wires are rubbing into that.

[@angelmendoza6833]

you should've put an affiliant link to some on amazon i wouldve purchased.

[@jmtx.]

Great comparison and fix. Thanks.

[@dogodogo5891]

hi i need some advices i planned to make some engraver which is better between linear bearing-stainless steel rod n linear guide?

[@dherrendoerfer]

Well, there is no one-size-fits-all, but in my experience threaded rods are not as good, as they tend to go bad and bend at some time - linear rails and blocks in combination with aluminium profile are a much better combination. Sometimes the shape of the block and the 20x20mm mounting holes make the construction of the tool-holder much easier.

[@aarondcmedia9585]

Would way oil be ok to use for the grease?

[@dherrendoerfer]

If it is free of acids, yes.

[@michaelschuler7397]

And not silicon based

[@MaintDocs]

Yes. All the haas machines use way oil with auto oilers (then they tried grease systems that clogged badly. The new ones claim to use grease but actually use way oil again).

[@maxkool007]

chek the bearings. most of the time they are undersized and this is where the slop comes from.

[@boharihamen]

Any links to these linear rails?

[@dherrendoerfer]

These for example, although not super-cheap right now: www.banggood.com/MGN12H-250300500550mm-Linear-Rail-Guide-Linear-Sliding-Guide-Block-CNC-Tool-p-1156260.html?rmmds=search&ID=515968&cur_warehouse=CN

[@michaelschuler7397]

Are those Hiwin ?

[@dherrendoerfer]

No, I believe these were Machifit.

[@sfrskz]

they make them better now i guess, because mines werent wobbling or shutters while moving

[@dherrendoerfer]

@@sfrskz Yeah, I've made that observation as well, the last that I ordered were very good, if they arrived undamaged - that's my main worry right now, because it seems that many sellers now consider a plastic bag adequate packaging.

[@sfrskz]

Dirk Herrendoerfer other than lost time if you got warped rail they refund or send new one. i love banggood in this way. you dont wait like in aliexpress disputes.

[@megadeth369]

Thanks!

[@ricardomolina8773]

You're not telling the sizes of the Rail

[@christophergrove4876]

I THINK "MGN12h"?

[@GoranMilici]

I don't know where you got yours but mine look the same but none of the problems and they say made in Romania. Which is actually good quality. It just happeneds i was born in Romania but moved to the states 32 years ago but a lot of high end companies make their stuff in Romania because the labor is sti dirt cheap but the workmanship is good. From my 2020 mercedes sprinter head light and tail lights say made in Romania to some kenneth kole leather shoes. So u must have gotten the bargain basement that you find on shady sites. I paid 100 bucks for 600 mm and 4 green carriages with a ball screw.

[@MaintDocs]

Also worth mentioning that Taiwan is the high quality China. If you are looking for bargain machinery, it's definitely worth look that stuff from there. (from machine shop experience)

[@ghulamhaider9548]

I need this

[@98f5]

lmao 1/10th of a mil with a fuckin screwdriver? okay maybe...

[@colinz.5441]

we have this product made in Japan quality but price is made in China

[@MF175mp]

Sure you do

[@youtubehandlesux]

If it's made in the real China instead of the fake big one then it sounds reasonable

[@michaelschuler7397]

I just buy THK or NSK . Problem solved

[@MaintDocs]

Just be rich and don't be concerned with purchase price. Problem solved. Amazing advice there.

[@michaelschuler7397]

@@MaintDocs no I buy them new old stock be smart not stupid