A bearing pillow block, also known as a plummer block or pillow block bearing, is a pedestal used to provide support for a rotating shaft with the help of compatible bearings and various accessories. Housing a bearing, the pillow block provides a secure and stable foundation that allows the shaft to rotate smoothly within its machinery setup. These components are essential in a wide range of mechanical systems and machinery, playing a key role in reducing friction and supporting radial and axial loads.

// Pillow Block Bearing
// A bearing pillow block, also known as a plummer block or pillow block bearing, is a pedestal used to provide support for a rotating shaft with the help of compatible bearings and various accessories. Housing a bearing, the pillow block provides a secure and stable foundation that allows the shaft to rotate smoothly within its machinery setup. These components are essential in a wide range of mechanical systems and machinery, playing a key role in reducing friction and supporting radial and axial loads.
// Categories: Construction, Manufacturing

// Set units
@settings(defaultLengthUnit = in)

// Import parts and parameters
import * from "parameters.kcl"
import "ball-bearing.kcl" as ballBearing
import "block.kcl" as block

// Render each part
ballBearing
block


// Pillow Block Bearing
// The ball bearing for the pillow block bearing assembly

// Set units
@settings(defaultLengthUnit = in)

// Import Parameters
import * from "parameters.kcl"

// Create the sketch of one of the balls. The ball diameter is sized as a fraction of the difference between inner and outer radius of the bearing
ballsSketch = startSketchOn(offsetPlane(XY, offset = stockThickness / 2))
  |> startProfile(at = [bearingBoreDiameter / 2 + 0.1, 0.001])
  |> arc(angleEnd = 0, angleStart = 180, radius = sphereDia / 2)
  |> close()

// Revolve the ball to make a sphere and pattern around the inside wall
balls = revolve(ballsSketch, axis = X)
  |> patternCircular3d(
       arcDegrees = 360,
       axis = [0, 0, 1],
       center = [0, 0, 0],
       instances = 16,
       rotateDuplicates = true,
     )

// Create the sketch for the chain around the balls
chainSketch = startSketchOn(offsetPlane(XY, offset = stockThickness / 2))
  |> startProfile(at = [
       bearingBoreDiameter / 2 + 0.1 + sphereDia / 2 - (chainWidth / 2),
       0.125 * sin(60deg)
     ])
  |> arc(angleEnd = 60, angleStart = 120, radius = sphereDia / 2)
  |> line(end = [0, chainThickness])
  |> line(end = [-chainWidth, 0])
  |> close()

// Revolve the chain sketch
chainHead = revolve(chainSketch, axis = X)
  |> patternCircular3d(
       arcDegrees = 360,
       axis = [0, 0, 1],
       center = [0, 0, 0],
       instances = 16,
       rotateDuplicates = true,
     )

// Create the sketch for the links in between the chains
linkSketch = startSketchOn(XZ)
  |> circle(
       center = [
         bearingBoreDiameter / 2 + 0.1 + sphereDia / 2,
         stockThickness / 2
       ],
       radius = linkDiameter / 2,
     )

// Create the walls of the bearing
bearingBody = startSketchOn(XZ)
bearingUpper = startProfile(
       bearingBody,
       at = [
         bearingOuterDiameter / 2 - .07,
         stockThickness
       ],
     )
  |> angledLine(angle = -91, length = 0.05)
  |> xLine(length = -(bearingOuterDiameter / 2 - (bearingBoreDiameter / 2)) + .145)
  |> yLine(endAbsolute = 0.105)
  |> xLine(length = -0.025)
  |> angledLine(angle = 91, endAbsoluteY = profileStartY(%))
  |> line(endAbsolute = [profileStartX(%), profileStartY(%)])
  |> close()
  |> revolve(angle = 360, axis = Y)
  |> appearance(color = "#121212")

bearingLower = startProfile(bearingBody, at = [bearingBoreDiameter / 2, 0.025])
  |> xLine(length = 0.05)
  |> angledLine(angle = 75, length = 0.04, tag = $seg01)
  |> xLine(length = 0.05)
  |> angledLine(angle = -75, length = segLen(seg01))
  |> xLine(endAbsolute = bearingOuterDiameter / 2)
  |> yLine(length = stockThickness)
  |> xLine(length = -0.07)
  |> angledLine(angle = -91, endAbsoluteY = profileStartY(%) + .075)
  |> xLine(endAbsolute = profileStartX(%) + .05)
  |> angledLine(angle = 91, endAbsoluteY = stockThickness * 1.25)
  |> xLine(endAbsolute = profileStartX(%))
  |> line(endAbsolute = [profileStartX(%), profileStartY(%)])
  |> close()
  |> revolve(angle = 360, axis = Y)
  |> appearance(color = "#f0f0f0")

// Revolve the link sketch
revolve(linkSketch, axis = Y, angle = 360 / 16)
  |> patternCircular3d(
       arcDegrees = 360,
       axis = [0, 0, 1],
       center = [0, 0, 0],
       instances = 16,
       rotateDuplicates = true,
     )


// Pillow Block Bearing
// The machined block for the pillow block bearing assembly. The block is dimensioned using the bolt pattern spacing, and each bolt hole includes a counterbore

// Set units
@settings(defaultLengthUnit = in)

// Import Parameters
import * from "parameters.kcl"

// Calculate the dimensions of the block using the specified bolt spacing. The size of the block can be defined by adding a multiple of the counterbore diameter to the bolt spacing
blockLength = boltSpacingX + counterboreDiameter + boltDiameter
blockWidth = boltSpacingY + counterboreDiameter + boltDiameter

// Draw the base plate
plateSketch = startSketchOn(XY)
  |> startProfile(at = [-blockLength / 2, -blockWidth / 2])
  |> angledLine(angle = 0, length = blockLength, tag = $rectangleSegmentA001)
  |> angledLine(angle = segAng(rectangleSegmentA001) + 90, length = blockWidth, tag = $rectangleSegmentB001)
  |> angledLine(angle = segAng(rectangleSegmentA001), length = -segLen(rectangleSegmentA001), tag = $rectangleSegmentC001)
  |> line(endAbsolute = [profileStartX(%), profileStartY(%)], tag = $rectangleSegmentD001)
  |> close()
  |> subtract2d(tool = circle(center = [0, 0], radius = bearingOuterDiameter / 2))
plateBody = extrude(plateSketch, length = stockThickness)
  |> appearance(color = "#1e62eb")
  |> fillet(
       radius = boltDiameter * 1 / 3,
       tags = [
         getNextAdjacentEdge(rectangleSegmentB001),
         getNextAdjacentEdge(rectangleSegmentA001),
         getNextAdjacentEdge(rectangleSegmentC001),
         getNextAdjacentEdge(rectangleSegmentD001)
       ],
     )

// Define hole positions
holePositions = [
  [-boltSpacingX / 2, -boltSpacingY / 2],
  [-boltSpacingX / 2, boltSpacingY / 2],
  [boltSpacingX / 2, -boltSpacingY / 2],
  [boltSpacingX / 2, boltSpacingY / 2]
]

// Function to create a counterbored hole
fn counterbore(@holePosition) {
  cbBore = startSketchOn(plateBody, face = END)
    |> circle(center = holePosition, radius = counterboreDiameter / 2)
    |> extrude(length = -counterboreDepth)
  cbBolt = startSketchOn(cbBore, face = START)
    |> circle(center = holePosition, radius = boltDiameter / 2, tag = $hole01)
    |> extrude(length = -stockThickness + counterboreDepth)

  return {  }
}

// Place a counterbored hole at each bolt hole position
map(holePositions, f = counterbore)


// Global parameters for the pillow block bearing

// Set units
@settings(defaultLengthUnit = in)

// Export parameters
export boltSpacingX = 5
export boltSpacingY = 3
export boltDiameter = 3 / 8
export counterboreDiameter = 3 / 4
export counterboreDepth = 3 / 16
export stockThickness = .5
export bearingBoreDiameter = 1 + 3 / 4
export bearingOuterDiameter = bearingBoreDiameter * 1.5
export sphereDia = (bearingOuterDiameter - bearingBoreDiameter) / 4
export chainWidth = sphereDia / 2
export chainThickness = sphereDia / 8
export linkDiameter = sphereDia / 4


Geometry Engine

Zoo CAD Engine Overview

KCL: A Programming Language for Parametric CAD

pillow-block-bearing

KCL