07.09.2022

AN INTRODUCTION TO BALL SCREWS


Ball screws are top of the class when it comes to linear motion control solutions that provide precision and efficiency. Find out more about how ball screws work, why they are so popular, and what kinds of considerations you should factor in when selecting the right ball screw assembly for an application.


Why are ball screws so popular?


Ball screws are made up of a nut and threaded shaft with hardened steel ball bearings that move on a helical pathway to drive the motion. This use of ball bearings negates much of the friction associated with other screws such as roller and acme, and this lack of friction means that ball screws are 90% efficient or higher, and therefore one of the most effective ways of turning rotary motion into linear motion. Not only does the design of the ball screw make it efficient, it also makes it capable of moving heavy loads quickly, making it a rival for pneumatic and hydraulic cylinders. Ball screws are also the linear motion system of choice for high-precision applications because their movement, including acceleration and deceleration, is controllable with high levels of accuracy.


How to select the right ball screw for your application


There are a range of ball screw options on the market, and when selecting the configuration for a particular assembly, a number of factors should be considered. These include:


LOADS:


Dynamic and static loadings both need to be calculated. Dynamic load ratings are usually based on a given load that can be moved for a million revolutions. Moment loads are also important, with particular focus on the direction in which they occur because they are likely to reduce the efficiency of the ball screw.


SERVICE LIFE:


There are a number of calculations used to estimate the likely life expectancy of a ball screw. Experienced ball screw suppliers such as Matara UK are able to support you in the calculation of these, either online or via their engineering support team.


SPEED:


The speed of movement for a ball screw can depend on a number of factors including mounting method, diameter, unsupported length and the rpm speed. Screw straightness and the alignment of the assembly will also be factors in speed calculations.






Five Advantages Of Linear Guides


Linear guides, also known as linear guides, slide rails, linear guides, and linear slides, are used in linear reciprocating motion applications, and can bear a certain torque, and can achieve high-precision linear motion under high load conditions. With the development of society, our machinery industry is getting better and better, and our linear guides are becoming more and more popular, so let's take a look at the five advantages of linear guides:




The new guide rail is anti-wear




High-speed linear guides are locally made of high-carbon chromium bearing steel with strong wear resistance. After heat treatment and density grinding, when the surface hardness reaches 70HRC or more, it can effectively extend the life of the linear guide!



2.Simple assembly and universal accessories


At present, linear guide products have become large-scale and standardized accessories, which are not only convenient for customers to choose, but also very convenient in assembly. Of course, the interchangeability is not negligible. You can also search for suppliers separately for sliders and guides. Even if wear occurs during future use, you can also handle accessories through other supply channels. This Good interchangeability characteristics are a lot more convenient for us consumers.


3.Low noise during high-speed operation


Nowadays, linear guides have basically adopted ball-type technology. The two-axis high-speed linear guides used on the market are inlaid with double-row bearings. In this way, the bearings will also be completely driven, and will not be affected by the ball circulation. Reduce its operating speed. Choosing this technology can get the largest circulation movement and greatly reduce the noise.


4.High precision and easy to disassemble


It is very difficult to adjust the gap accuracy of the linear guide under the traditional mode. If it is not maintained for a long time, it will cause aging. If it is maintained, the accuracy of adjustment after disassembly becomes difficult and complicated. At this stage, the new linear guides and sliders can use side bolts to adjust the accuracy of the gap. Thereby greatly reducing the workload and saving time!


5.Low cost and good efficiency


The internal structure of the linear guide is simple in design and can be produced in large quantities. In addition, the light weight, corrosion resistance and interchangeability of this guide rail have achieved the characteristics of easy assembly, and can be applied to the transmission components of various CNC machinery and equipment. In addition, cost control has a good competitive advantage in terms of price.






What is a lock nut? How does it work?


Ordinary nuts provide clamping force to a bolt or screw to prevent axial movement. When the application involves vibration, the nuts risk loosening, risking damage to the application. This is where lock nuts prove their worth: they resist vibration and shock. There’s no one answer for how to use a lock nut, as they vary. Let’s take a closer look.


How does a lock nut work?


These lock nuts are designed with pitted or flanged grooves and need greater torque to tighten and loosen. They don’t spin freely along the fastener’s shaft, as they begin to clamp down as you rotate them. This means longer assembly time for your application. However, they cost a lot less than the other lock-nut style. These types of nuts are called prevailing-torque nuts due to the resistance to rotation when assembling and removing. These are essentially nuts with locks. They easily rotate during tightening and loosening for fast assembly. Locked into position by a positive action. Some lock nuts require inserting a pin while others present a small lip or crown that is crimped inward when installed, gripping the shaft. While assembly is fast and more secure, this type of lock nut costs more.






All About Roller Bearings - What You Need to Know


Need Roller bearings are rolling-element bearings which use rolling cylinders held between inner and outer raceways to support radial and axial loads acting on rotating and reciprocating shafts. They can be loosely divided among bearings that support mainly radial loads, bearings that support mainly axial loads, and bearings that support combined radial and axial loads. This article will discuss the distinct forms that roller bearings take and highlight briefly some general applications.


Rollers can be cylindrical, tapered, spherical, or needle-like, depending on the intended application of the bearing. They are generally made from carburized alloy steel as carburization leaves beneficial residual compressive stresses on the roller surface. Unlike ball bearings, which are usually purchased and installed already assembled, roller bearings may be separable, with the races pressed onto shafts and into housings individually, with the caged rollers then installed between them. Cages can be made from stamped steel, machined bronze, polymer, etc., depending on the application and volume requirements of a given bearing. Pin-type roller cages are sometimes used in very large bearings. Sometimes needle bearings are used without inner races and the needles ride directly on the surfaces of hardened shafts. Their outer races can be made quite thin too, called drawn-cup, and, in such cases, depend on the strength of the backing material in which they are mounted to manage the load. A typical application of full-complement needle bearings is in universal joints, where the motion is reciprocating, the needles ride directly on the shaft, and the joint housing provides material to back up the thin-walled outer case.






Linear Slide or Linear Stage: A Guide to Motion Terminology


High-performance motion and positioning platforms are complex systems categorized by many performance parameters. This complexity can easily lead to confusion when searching for the proper component for a particular application. Complicating the selection further is the abundance of seemingly overlapping terms used to describe independent technologies. The phrases "linear slide" and "linear stage," for example, are often used interchangeably. Although widely accepted in the motion control industry, this is technically incorrect. In this article, PI aims to offer some guidance on the distinct motion control terminologies relating to linear slides and stages.


What is a Linear Stage?


Although often used synonymously with the phrase “linear slide”, the term “linear stage” is used mostly, when higher accuracy motorized positioners with precision bearings are referred to. Another variation for “linear stage” is “translation stage” and sometimes even the combination of both - “linear translation stage” - whereas“translation slide” is not common. The definition of translation comes from mathematics and defines the motion of a shape without rotating or flipping it.


Many different types of guide systems are used in linear stages, including ball bearings, crossed-roller bearings, air bearings, flexures (short travel) and even magnetic bearings such as those used in MagLev stages, each of which must be accompanied by a motor/actuator and position sensor/encoder to perform computer controllable accurate translation.


Linear stages are available for vertical, or lift, positioning, XY motion, and multi-axial positional control for a variety of applications.

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