These bearings seem like a big improvement over what we usually have to do for the unstayed rotating masts.  In the past builders have had to machine a bearing out of a giant chunk of slick plastic.  Most of the plastic was ground off and wasted and the cost ran into thousands.  http://www.glidebearings.com/

Spherical bearings like the Tides units would have been perfect, but were not nearly large enough.  Bendy materials like carbon fiber require spherical bearings to keep from binding under load, or as Rob Denny does, have a very loose fit.

These kind of are of the loose fit variety.  I see the bearing having a fairly close fit to the round mast, but deflecting with the mast.  I have not detailed this yet but will.  The bearing will need a fiberglass sleeve around it to protect it and keep it round.  I see this whole unit captured in a looser fit.

Contact Tim Creighton at Glidebearings  tim@glidebearings.com

Non-Metallic PEX Fittings
Pex piping was one of the discoveries I made on the Lunar Lander  project. It is used in place of PVC especially since it can survive freezing. The plumbers used metal joint fittings, which must be destroyed for the piping  to be revised.

At the IBEX conference I found these non-metal pex clamps. www.flairit.com  www.iplumb.tv .They can be installed with only pliers instead of a crimping machine that resembles bolt cutters. An improvement on an improvement. Made in Chile.  There, better pic.

Again Fiberlay classes.

Basic Composite & Mold Making Training Classes!

Saturday, May 10, 2014  9am – 3pm  and again maybe you can get in for no cost if you note that you are one of my builders.

Fiberlay – Seattle
24 South Idaho Street, Seattle, WA 98134

Please see the links below for more information:
http://www.fiberlay.com/emailblast/TrainingClasses-5-10-14.pdf

http://www.fiberlay.com/emailblast/TrainingClasses-5-10-14.jpg