What kind of bearing / bush / flangey thing would I use to travel on solid rod?

[bricol]

Cheap Chinese linear bearings might do the job but they are terrific at releasing the odd ball or two when threading the rod into the bearing. I have heard that you can live with a couple of balls missing but more than that could be a problem. Even Misumi bearings can release balls if roughly handled.

Any linear bearing will do that if not designed to keep them captive - customer of mine sent some Hiwin units back to use for us to send back to be re-balled (sorry, even the Yanks find that to be school-boy chuckle-able ) as the US importer doesn't - got them back, and despite all my warnings on not removing the keepers but to slide them off onto the working rail, promptly dropped a load them on the floor . . . if you find them all again, and clean them, you can re-insert them.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

@skotl Has my memory deserted me completely, but I seem to recall you mentioning a while back maybe moving the RF on?

 

[skotl]

@skotl Has my memory deserted me completely, but I seem to recall you mentioning a while back maybe moving the RF on?

Nah - no space (height) in the garage to take a bigger mill

I was half joking when @scottmk1 was talking about moving his last mill out, as I bought this one from him

 

[Rkweld]

I would vote bronze bush, and seals to keep the grease in and swarf out. Like a hydraulic ram gland seal and bush.

 

[scottmk1]

Nah - no space (height) in the garage to take a bigger mill

I was half joking when @scottmk1 was talking about moving his last mill out, as I bought this one from him

I'm glad you were only half joking, means I only have half the job left to convince you

 

[striker]

I have a rong Fu, so will be watching this! Currently using a laser to a mirror 20' away and back to the mill/drill. Works quite well. I can raise the head and clamp back to within a thou or two. Good enough for most the stuff I do.