I've designed a handy 3D printed accessory to help open and close heavy curtains or drapes with ease. These bearing wheels mount onto your existing curtain rod, allowing the curtains to glide open and closed smoothly.

The wheels incorporate 698zz ball bearings (ABEC-1 rating) which provide an ultra-smooth rolling action. While overkill for this application, I went with an overengineered design for maximum performance and longevity.

If you use any kind of motorized system to automatically open and close your curtains, these bearing wheels will significantly reduce the wear and tear on your stepper motors since the curtains can now move much more freely.

A few key points about the design:

• Made to fit any cylindrical curtain rod by sliding directly onto the rod
• Uses commonly available 698zz bearings (purchase separately)
• STL file designed specifically for this bearing size
• For personal/home use only - no commercial use permitted
• M3 screw for eye loop or hooks

Print, install, and let your curtains glide! If you find this design useful, consider buying me a beer or tossing a few dollars my way to support more home goods designs in the future.

Let me know if you have any other questions! I'm happy to provide the STL file and installation instructions to anyone interested in giving these a try.