8 mm Rod

Precision CNC Machine Applications

From 3D printing to more precision

• Zinc galvanized rods don't rust, but may be rough? McMaster $9/6 feet - [1]

Sourcing

Look up Thomas Register - [2]

USA

• Stainless - [3]
• Metalbythefoot - 5/16 hot rolled is $3 for 10 feet at Metalbythefoot. $7.50 for 1016 cold rolled. $16 for 304. All 5/16", not 8 mm. McMaster is $21 for 10 feet of 304, 5/16". 10' of 12L14 is $10 for 3/8". Want to consider moving to larger rod. About 2x less expensive than McMaster - summary: no more McMaster rods. When it comes to local sourcing, 8 mm is simply not an option.
• Get quotes on rod.

China 2017

• 2017 year end - $2.6/ft for good stuff.
• More 2017 - $1.75/meter, but shipping is almost twice that. This is chrome plated but soft rod. $1.5/ft fo soft stuff.
• $3/meter for chrome plated rods including sea freight, based on a 1 ton minimum order- $1/ft in bulk for good stuff.

Consumer

• $4/foot from Aliexpress - [4]
• $4.6/foot on amazon - [5]
• $10 for 1 meter - Folgertech - [6]
• Specifications included - [7]. $7.10 for 355 mm
• How about less hard rod and plastic bearings? See about IGUS plastic bearings - [8]
• Igus - $8/bearing - [9]
• Reddit thread - no consensus - [10]
• Igus external bearing dimensions are not the same - [11]
• This reddit includes comments on Lulzbot rods - [12]
• Press fit vs non-press fit IGUS - [13]
• Drylin from Folgertech - $1.25 - [14]
• 8 mm oil impregnated bushings - [15]

Shipping

• 2020 - $100 for 60 rods from McMaster to OSE headquarters.