DIY Pneumatic Bearing Press

I recently had a very successful kickstarter (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/idlehandsdev/five-dollar-fidget-spinner) and I am now having to assemble thousands of fidget spinners. I first thought I would just assemble them with a cheap hand press, but then soon realized that it would take a really long time to do so, no ideal. I looked online and found desktop pneumatic presses, but they were over $5000! Out of my budget. I decided to make my own press since I knew I could. Also it would be fun. Its made out of laser cut plate steel and overall only cost about $250! I saved thousands and now its saving me thousands of minutes in time also.

Use your favourite CAD software to create your design. If you want to use mine you are free to do so! The zip file contains a PDF (for dimensions) and a DXF file.

I have created a part that threads onto the pneumatic piston, it holds the bearing with a magnet and centers it exactly where it needs to go. You can order it on Shapeways if you like: Bearing Holder on Shapeways

I ordered all of the hardware from McMaster-Carr. Here is the list!

• 5635K63 - Flexible Nylon Tubing HT Pressure, Opaque Red, 0.18" ID, 1/4" OD, 25 ft. Length x 1
• 5779K109 - Push-to-Connect Tube Fitting for Air Straight Adapter, for 1/4" Tube OD x 1/4 NPT Male x 5

• 5779K108 Push-to-Connect Tube Fitting for Air Straight Adapter, for 1/4" Tube OD x 1/8 NPT Male x 1

• 6464K18 Air Directional Control Valve 3-Way, 3 Port, Auto Return, 1/8 NPT, with Palm Button x 2

• 5862K963 High-Pull Rare Earth Magnetic Disc Nickel-Plated Neodymium, 1/4" Thick, 0.187" Diameter x 3

• 6498K536 Round Body Air Cylinder Single-Acting, Push Style, 1-1/16" Bore, 4" Stroke x 1

• 91257A777 Zinc Yellow-Chromate Plated Hex Head Screw Grade 8 Steel, 9/16"-12 Thread Size, 6" Long, Packs of 1 x 1

• 94895A827 - High-Strength Steel Hex Nut Grade 8, Zinc Yellow-Chromate Plated, 9/16"-12 Thread Size, Packs of 25 x 1

• 2515T18 - Leveling Mount Easy Adjustable with Cushioned Bottom, 5/16"-18 x 3/4" Long Thread, Packs of 4 x 1

• 9225K63 - Neoprene Vibration Damping Sandwich Mount Male/Male, M6 Thread, 3/4" High, 3/4" Wide x 4

• 90591A151 - Zinc-Plated Steel Hex Nut Medium-Strength, Class 8, M6 x 1 mm Thread, Packs of 100 x 1

• 5779K151 - Push-to-Connect Tube Fitting for Air 90 Degree Swivel Elbow, for 1/4" Tube OD x 1/8 NPT Male x 4

• 93635A544 - 316 Stainless Steel Hex Head Screw Super-Corrosion-Resistant, M12 x 1.75 mm Thread, 70 mm Long, Packs of 1 x 8

• 94205A280 - 316 Stainless Steel Nylon-Insert Locknut Super-Corrosion-Resistant, M12 x 1.75 mm Thread, Packs of 10 x 1

• 91166A290 - Zinc-Plated Steel Washer for M12 Screw Size, 13 mm ID, 24 mm OD, Packs of 100 x 1

Apply some paint of your choice so it doesn't rust!

Its a pretty simple puzzle, but getting the base on the top mount can be tricky.

Bolt it all together.

Admire your DIY tool and the money you have just saved.

It works!

You will need to make your own fixture for whatever you are installing a bearing(or other things!) into. Since mine is one of my fidget spinner designs, its exclusive to this part and what I'm using it for. If you have your own designs you just need to make them fit into the base fixture.

Seriously, I couldn't even imagine doing this manually. My arms hurt just from pushing the buttons 5000 times. I put myself in robot mode.

Build one!

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