The Best Way to Make Things Spin - Kevin Caron

#MakeThingsSpinSmoothly #UsingBearings #KevinCaronArt
From www.kevincaron.com - Artist Kevin Caron explains how he makes his sculptures spin smoothly using bearings ....
Kevin Caron is working on a kinetic sculpture, and making things spin is something he's been getting a lot of questions about. How do you make something spin? You need a bearing - or two.
Bearings are really simple. There are only 3 pieces to a bearing assembly: an upper and lower race that the bearings run in, and the cage that holds the balls. He shows the 2 sides of the cage, how on one side the balls are trapped inside the 2 edges that are crimped together to hold them in, and the cage side that keeps all the balls aligned and separated.
The cage fits into 1 race, and the other race sits on top of it. Now you have a bearing.
There are many different styles of bearings. Kevin Caron is using a thrust bearing in this free how to video, but you've also got, for instance, wheel bearings in your car that allow the wheels to spin. They are a little different but doing the same basic thing. Thrust bearings seem to work best for for the way he works.
Kevin Caron shows an assembly he just made. It has 1 thrust bearing at the top of the assembly - it will get welded together. He points out a small hole where he'll install a zerk fitting so the bearing can be greased with a grease gun once or twice a year because the bearing itself will be captured inside. He shows how the angle at the top of the metal shaft that will be welded to the sculpture itself. So that's the top of the assembly.
Next Kevin Caron shows another thrust bearing at the bottom. He took an oversized aluminum shaft and turned it down on the lathe so the lower thrust bearing has a shoulder to sit on. That makes it captive on the bottom, but still able to spin on top.
He also turned the inside of the piece of pipe so it fits the outside diameter of the thrust bearing and did the same at the top, where he turned the shaft down even farther so the smaller thrust bearing can fit in it. He also recessed inside the top piece for a nice snug fit over the top.
Kevin Caron will line up and weld together the assembly so the sculpture can spin nice and smooth and easy. The nice thing with this setup is not having to weld on the bearings. (Well, in this case you really can't because he is using steel races and an aluminum shaft, which can't be welded together.)
Instead of welding the top 2 pieces together, you could also hollow out the inside just a little bit more, cut the outside diameter down a little, and thread them so they screw together. That way you can take it apart to get to that top bearing again.
If you are wondering, "Wouldn't 1 bearing work?," no, it won't, because of the slop in the shaft. You have to have both bearings to get rid of that wobble. With the smaller diameter bearing fitted inside, there's no movement.
Kevin Caron hopes that helps you get your bearings (groan!) and figure out how to make whatever it is you're working on.
He appreciates you watching. Before you go, come out to www.kevincaron to see more free how-to videos and his amazing sculpture.
Well, you might want to hang out another minute to see the original spinning toy ....
Artist Kevin Caron has been sculpting full time since 2006. See - and hear - his amazing metal and large format 3D-printed sculptures, which are found in public and private places coast-to-coast and online at www.kevincaron.com.
"Inspired sculpture for public & private places."
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Twitter: / kevincaronart

[@jimpritz4169]

Great education Kevin. I like the fact that you're never "Overbearing".

[@KevincaronSculpture]

You are so punny!!!

[@escothemagnificent4399]

Thank you so much for this.

[@bquade70]

Always good info Kevin👍👍 Lake Havasu- ☀️ AZ

[@KevincaronSculpture]

Thanks 👍

[@larrystrayer8336]

Very good explanation because I don’t have a lathe. I often repurpose a bicycle front fork thrust bearings assembly for small sculptures. Well greased

[@KevincaronSculpture]

Using what you have on hand is a great way to get the job done.

[@larrystrayer8336]

@@KevincaronSculpture and the name of my studio: Junkyard Crafts. I always try to use “junk” in my pieces.

[@earlie47]

I like it.

[@naawesomevids]

thanks for breaking that down!!!

[@KevincaronSculpture]

Happy to help!

[@joell439]

thanks Kevin. interesting design approach. I suspect a even better arrangement might be a thrust bearing at the bottom, and a radial bearing at the top. Flat thrust bearings are not really designed to take side loads. And that approach requires really tight tolerances to have both thrust bearings carry thrust loads simultaneously. That's why they have tapered thrust bearings to do both functions 👍😃👍

[@KevincaronSculpture]

Have to give that a try Joel. Thanks for watching and posting.

[@stuffsethmakes]

awesome! i want to try something with these. is there typically a weight limit to these? i'm sure your builds are pretty heavy. Thanks for sharing these thrust bearings!

[@KevincaronSculpture]

All depends on the size of the bearing. I have seen them so small I needed tweezers to pick them up. And large enough to need both hands and couple of grunts to pick up!

[@thefoundengineer6408]

Hey Kevin, great video! I really appreciate the succinct and accessible explanations. One question: is it just gravity that holds the two-piece thrust bearing assembly together? If you wanted it to be clamped down would adding threading to the shaft and a nut be a viable option? Asking because i want to use a similar setup for a wind-turbine assembly. Thanks for any input you might have.

[@KevincaronSculpture]

You could add some threads and tighten the bearing that way. But why? You can get a different bearing that will do the same things without the threading. Check out the selection at VXBEARING.COM

[@thefoundengineer6408]

@@KevincaronSculpture Thanks Kevin. I took a look at the site but not sure which type of bearing would accomplish this. Would you happen to have an idea? No worries if not.

[@KevincaronSculpture]

Not sure on size but something like this. vxb.com/products/15mm-flange-bearing-ufl002-eccentric-collar-locking-two-bolt-flange-unit It will have 2 set screws to keep the shaft in place and a zerk fitting for grease.

[@MaRcUs77MC]

Hi Kevin! I had a question if you’d be willing to help. Any advice on making something soon where it will be mounted vertically? So shaft horizontally. So say wall art that you could spin. Nothing majorly heavy but also without a long shaft since it’ll be on the wall. How would you go about doing it? Awesome work love the videos! Excuse my ignorance if I haven’t dug deep enough to find the answer in other videos.

[@KevincaronSculpture]

A lot of engineering to make this work. Short shafts with some way to secure the piece that goes on it. If you are in the USA please give me a call. Normally I would ask for a consulting fee for anything this complex. My number is on my website.

[@MaRcUs77MC]

@@KevincaronSculpture Awesome, thank you for the time. I will definitely contact you.

[@ChunkyMonkaayyy]

I'm typing right now! :)

[@CraftwerksMC]

One other thought is on the top you could use a brass bushing unless it is also carrying a load. either way would be fine I think overall though.

[@KevincaronSculpture]

Thank you for the ideas!

[@OraleIggy]

Kevin, this is totally off topic, but I had my catalytic converter stolen and it looks like they used a diablo sawzall blade. Is there any way to secure my next catalytic. Such as welding a straonger or harder rod over my exhaust to dull out that diablo sawzall blade? Thank a bunch. I figured you would know a stronger metal that i might be able to use

[@KevincaronSculpture]

Short of wrapping the exhaust pipe with a 1/4 inch thick pipe I really can't think of anyway to slow they down. Weld a chain from the cat to the car might help.

[@OraleIggy]

@@KevincaronSculpture Thank you, I think I am going to just have to make a cage for it and hope this is enough to prevent theft.

[@semidemiurge]

where are you finding the best prices on the thrust bearings?

[@wim0104]

... that last a while in a wet environment.

[@KevincaronSculpture]

I have been buying them at VXB.COM

[@pammotl2584]

Harbor and fraight store.

[@PauletteNoelleGarnier-jr4hw]

Please help! I have a 34" wooden wagon wheel that I want to mount on a tree. What is the best way to make it spin freely? (Vertically) It is to feed squirrels ears of corn.

[@KevincaronSculpture]

Well if you want to keep the wheel vertical, you will need an axle of some kind to mount it to the tree. A shaft to screw to the tree trunk and mount the bearings to it. Interesting piece to build.

[@stevens.4789]

What is the thickness of the bearing that you are using? I found one on amazon at 10mm, yours appear even thicker. And the one I found is described as "single direction". Would that mean the object would only spin in one direction. TIA

[@KevincaronSculpture]

Those bearings are a bit on the thick side! If I remember correctly they are 1/2 inch thick. And yes, directional bearings will only spin in one direction.

[@stevens.4789]

@@KevincaronSculpture Alright, I got my bearing. Would you suggest Lithium grease or something else? Thanks for your quick reply and sharing your knowledge.

[@pammotl2584]

What bearing is used to make dancing birds to put in yard?

[@KevincaronSculpture]

all depends on your design and fab ability.

[@pammotl2584]

I HAVE two things in mind spring and a bearing and get balancing Point.could you give me a diagram or tell me bearing or spring? Thanks

[@mohammedtroy4296]

how the other bearing working?

[@KevincaronSculpture]

Not sure what you are asking.

[@mohammedtroy4296]

@@KevincaronSculpture your balls bearing

[@tophat2002]

I want to waterproof my bearings diy but it seems impossible.

[@KevincaronSculpture]

All depends on the design and what type of bearings you are using. Nothing is impossible, just takes more time and money.

[@Lloyd.B.]

That top bearing could have been a normal wheel type, to stop the sideways movement, and let the thrust bearing take all the weight (downward force)?.. I imagine normal are better than thrust for stopping sideways movement, since they are only held together by gravity?..

[@KevincaronSculpture]

I find using two normal bearings back-to-back work the best to keep the wobble out.

[@chelseaputnam8544]

Anyone else thinks he kinda sounds like yoda? Lol

[@KevincaronSculpture]

Step up it is! Kermit they used to call me!