Friction performance of 3D printed ball bearing: Feasibility study

3D printing provides the advantage of the capability to manufacture a wide range of geometric models without constraint and using various materials. Owing to the recent rapid development of 3D printing technologies, manufacturing accuracy has also been improved. Precisely 3D-printed parts are used in various industries such as medical, robotics, and manufacturing industries. In this study, the friction performance of 3D printed ball bearing is evaluated to verify its feasibility as an engineering part. Multi-jet printing (MJP) method is utilized to prepare the ball bearing specimen as it provides the advantages of straightforward manufacturing process and high surface quality. The test rig is designed and constructed to evaluate the friction performance under various rotating speed and radial load conditions. From the experiments, the friction performance and feasibility of 3D printed ball bearings are evaluated, and effective operating conditions of 3D printed bearings are recommended. The results in this study can be used as a reference to design ball bearings using 3D printing method.