Rod End Bearing Setting Jig

I wanted to replace the rod end bearings in my velomobile, but DIDN'T want the hassle of having to set up the steering geometry again from scratch. So I designed this little jig to clamp on to the threaded stud of the steering linkage. 

The way it works is:

• There's an M6 bolt and the end of the arm, and this slides into the existing bearing. 
• Then you clamp the rest of the assembly to the steering linkage
• Undo the M6 bolt and removing the rod end bearing. 
• Fit the new bearing, and screw it on until you can get the M6 bolt to fit back in.
• Remove the whole jig, do up the locknut for the rod end bearing, bolt the whole thing back onto the steering plate, and you're good to go - no further adjustment should be necessary.

There are two versions of the design - the regular one which has five bolts for the clamp and hinge, and a compact one that only has four bolts - this was a development based on my experience of the first version. The clamp base uses M5 heat press inserts for the fixing, while the jig arm with the M6 bolt at the end for locating the bearing is printed with an M6 thread (it's actually modelled at M6.15 x 1mm to give clearance). When I redesigned the compact version, I also added a bit more material around the outside of the clamp parts, so there's a bit more for the heat inserts to work with.

I printed in black PLA on my Bambu P1S:

• 0.16mm Optimal Profile. Modifications
• Set Seam Position to Back, and orientate the jig arm so that the main seam isn't on either of the holes
• Wall loops: 4
• Infill density: 50%
• Orientate the infill direction so that the jig arm will be as rigid as possible
• Enable support (Tree, auto), and uncheck the “Remove small overhangs”, so that there's a nubbin of support in the jig arm's threading.