The goal is to be able to slide your palm about 1 Inch in all directions...
If that is the goal then the lower part must be bigger by 1 inch in all directions compared to the upper part. The pictures do not indicate that at all.
Also the picture indicates that the ball sits in the upper bearing depression:
1) if the depression is simple spherical cutout then you will get sliding friction there and it is likely to be too much for smooth motion (even if it is made from a low friction material like e.g. teflon)
2) if the depression is a groove (shown from the direction of the groove ... therefore seen on the picture as a simple spherical cutout) then it will allow easy movement only in one direction (the direction of the groove)
If you want to have a friction less feeling with balls then the balls must be able to move as well. E.g. to move the pad to the right by one inch the ball must be able to move to the right by half an inch! This is true for any direction.
You do not have any indication in your pictures that you allow for this.
Look .e.g. at this exploded view of a linear bearing:
Notice that the bearing balls are there in "squished"
loops. The balls mus be in loops since one side of the loop provides the
return path for the moving balls. The other side of the loop actually is the
working area. This is the area where balls provide friction less movement between the carriage a the rail. They provide the friction less movement by rolling between the rail and the carriage surface. But because of this rolling they are also moving along the loop. Therefore they need the
return path. The balls are exiting the
working area of the loop ... returning through the
return path and entering the
working area on the other side.
Balls move through the
working area without friction since they are rolling. This is also the area where the balls are under load (possibly high forces between carriage and rail). The balls are not moving without friction in the
return path. But the friction is
very low there since there is no load on the balls.
Your design does not address the moving ball problem at all. That is the reason I pointed out other options (magnetic levitation, ...).
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