DIY turntable

[Oneduck]

As I’m learning to engrave, I’m having to build a few other things I need until I can get the funds to get the fancy ones. Here’s my DIY turntable so I’m not chasing things under the scope.
One piece of walnut (scrap I had)
One 12” piece of 1” steel I had laying around
One bearing off eBay
A couple hours later…

 

[pkroyer]

What type and size of bearing did you use? Looks great to me.

 

[Oneduck]

What type and size of bearing did you use? Looks great to me.

Thanks, this is the bearing (picture below). I’ll probably 3D print some thrust washers until I can get some ptfe thrust washers or a real turntable. It spins fine but it’s smoother when it’s not bearing on walnut. Imagine that

 

[Aventuraal]

You should be able to buy the thrust washers for very little. The bearing is the pricey part. I would try and get them soon, so you don't damage the bearing.

 

[Oneduck]

You should be able to buy the thrust washers for very little. The bearing is the pricey part. I would try and get them soon, so you don't damage the bearing.

They don’t seem to make them for this size that I’ve seen. I checked McMaster car, but this seems to be some weird bearing.

I don’t know that much about thrust washers, but what do you think about the idea of printing a thin one?

 

[Aventuraal]

Have you tried a specialty bearing supplier? The ones I have dealt with were knowledgeable, helpful, and could find it if it is made. I kind of doubt the long-term reliability of a printed washer, and the actual rotational smoothness you are looking for. I had tried putting a thrust bearing under the table of the drill press stand I use, and it worked fairly well, but there was still a roughness, due to the seat for the bearing wasn't a machined surface. When I built the turntable I use, I machined out a space between the two plates, used a center rotary bearing, and filled the space between the plates with Zytel bearings. The plates were aluminum (water jet drops),and the Zytel bearings are a non-absorbent plastic, so they wouldn't damage the machined surfaces of the aluminum like a steel bearing would, or absorb moisture and change size. The resultant turntable behaves like a giant thrust bearing, and supports the vice evenly all the way out to the edge, with no discernible change to the feel. The top surface is UHMW, and the vise moves smoothly when I want it to, and the weight (Magnablock) keeps it in place when I don't. My turntable is about 12 inches in diameter, and probably way over engineered for the purpose......it's just what I wanted.