Demystifying Ball Screw- A Comprehensive Guide

The ball screw helps to convert the rotational motion into a linear one. One can utilise the ball nuts to transmit the forces towards any dynamic and stationary load. With the help of the ball screw, you can do this repeatedly and with high precision and accuracy.

One of the unique elements of this mechanism happens to be the rolling balls. It is present in the helicoidal groove. Due to this reason, one can reduce the mechanical contact that takes place inside the screw assembly. One cannot forget about the complex components and structure of the ball screw WTF (บอลสกรู WTF, which is the term in Thai). They happen to be expensive and bulkier than any other screw.

Let us know about the components of the ball screw.

· Screw Shaft

With the help of the screw shaft, one can receive the rotational force and let the screw rotate on its axis. Due to this, the rotational force gets translated to linear motion. However, the power required to turn the shaft gets supplied by the motor that is present towards the end.

It is a long, cylindrical shaft that runs helically all around the length.

· The Nut

The nut happens to be the cylinder that comes with a ball bearing and a proper recirculation system. You can also find ball grooves in the internal portion of the nut.

· Ball Bearings

The bearing happens to be the most crucial component of a ball screw. It helps to move between the shaft and the clearance of the nut. You will see that these balls are made of steel. Also, they help to reduce the friction generated by the moving screw and then nut.

Accuracy Of The Screw

There is no doubt or second opinion about the accuracy of the screw. However, you need to know that the preciseness and accuracy depend upon the grooves’ compactness and manufacturing accuracy. Hence, the value can sometimes vary from one to another. Before you make investments in ball screws, make sure that you see attention to the factors.

Final Thought

The ball screw comes with a heavy-duty application. It requires high accuracy and speed along with long service time. You can use it in precise positioning, especially in electric vehicles and automated steering systems. Along with that, one can utilise the application of ball screws in various energy-generating machinery, including hydroelectric equipment, aircraft machinery, wind, turbines, and more. However, you must remember that the ball screws require more maintenance than lead screws. You must offer frequent lubrication to the screw to stay in its top condition.