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Recirculating Ball-Screw

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600 views4 pages

Recirculating Ball-Screw

Uploaded by

Manish Dhar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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NPTEL – Mechanical – Mechatronics and Manufacturing Automation

5. Ball-screw based linear drives

Fig.4.4.1 Ball-screw configuration

Ball screw is also called as ball bearing screw or recirculating ball-screw. It consists of a
screw spindle, a nut, balls and integrated ball return mechanism a shown in Figure 4.4.1.
The flanged nut is attached to the moving part of CNC machine tool. As the screw
rotates, the nut translates the moving part along the guide ways. However, since the
groove in the ball screw is helical, its steel balls roll along the helical groove, and, then,
they may go out of the ball nut unless they are arrested at a certain spot. Thus, it is
necessary to change their path after they have reached a certain spot by guiding them, one
after another, back to their “starting point” (formation of a recirculation path). The
recirculation parts play that role. When the screw shaft is rotating, as shown in Figure
4.4.1, a steel ball at point (A) travels 3 turns of screw groove, rolling along the grooves of
the screw shaft and the ball nut, and eventually reaches point (B). Then, the ball is forced
to change its pathway at the tip of the tube, passing back through the tube, until it finally
returns to point (A). Whenever the nut strokes on the screw shaft, the balls repeat the
same recirculation inside the return tube.

When debris or foreign matter enter the inside of the nut, it could affect smoothness in
operation or cause premature wearing, either of which could adversely affect the ball
screw’s functions. To prevent such things from occurring, seals are provided to keep
contaminants out. There are various types of seals viz. plastic seal or brush type of seal
used in ball-screw drives.

Joint initiative of IITs and IISc – Funded by MHRD Page 27 of 47


NPTEL – Mechanical – Mechatronics and Manufacturing Automation

5.1 Characteristics of ball screws:

5.1.1 High mechanical efficiency


In ball screws, about 90% or more of the force used to rotate the screw shaft can be
converted to the force to move the ball nut. Since friction loss is extremely low, the
amount of force used to rotate the screw shaft is as low as one third of that needed for the
acme thread lead screw.

5.1.2 Low in wear


Because of rolling contact, wear is less than that of sliding contact. Thus, the accuracy is
high. Ball screws move smoothly enough under very slow speed. They run smoothly
even under a load.

5.2 Thread Form


The thread form used in these screws can either be gothic arc type (Fig. 4.4.2.a) or
circular arc type (Fig. 4.4.2.b). The friction in this kind of arrangement is of rolling type.
This reduces its wear as comparison with conventional sliding friction screws drives.

Fig. 2 Thread forms (a) Gothic arc (b) Circular arc

Recirculating ball screws are of two types. In one arrangement the balls are returned
using an external tube. In the other arrangement the balls are returned to the start of the
thread in the nut through a channel inside the nut.

Joint initiative of IITs and IISc – Funded by MHRD Page 28 of 47


NPTEL – Mechanical – Mechatronics and Manufacturing Automation

5.3 Preloading

Fig. 4.4.3 Double nut preloading system

In order to obtain bidirectional motion of the carriage without any positional error, the
backlash between the nut and screw should be minimum. Zero backlash can be obtained
by fitting two nuts with preloading (tension or compression) or by applying a load which
exceeds the maximum operating load. Figure 4.4.3 shows double nut preloading system.
A shim plate (spacer) is inserted between two nuts for preloading. Preload is to create
elastic deformations (deflections) in steel balls and ball grooves in the nut and the screw
shaft in advance by providing an axial load. As a result the balls in one of the nuts contact
the one side of the thread and balls in the other nut contact the opposite side.

5.3.1 Effects of preload

• Zero backlash: It eliminates axial play between a screw shaft and a ball nut.
• It minimizes elastic deformation caused by external force, thus the rigidity
enhances.

In case mounting errors, misalignment between the screw shaft and the nut may occur
this further generates distortion forces. This could lead to the problems such as,

• Shortened service life


• Adverse effect on smooth operation
• Reduced positioning accuracy
• Generation of noise or vibration
• Breakage of screw shaft

Joint initiative of IITs and IISc – Funded by MHRD Page 29 of 47


NPTEL – Mechanical – Mechatronics and Manufacturing Automation

5.4 Advantages of ball screws

• Highly efficient and reliable.


• Less starting torque.
• Lower co efficient of friction compared to sliding type screws and run at cooler
temperatures
• Power transmission efficiency is very high and is of the order of 95 %.
• Could be easily preloaded to eliminate backlash.
• The friction force is virtually independent of the travel velocity and the friction at rest
is very small; consequently, the stick-slip phenomenon is practically absent, ensuring
uniformity of motion.
• Has longer thread life hence need to be replaced less frequently.
• Ball screws are well -suited to high through output, high speed applications or those
with continuous or long cycle times.
• Smooth movement over full range of travel.

5.5 Disadvantages of ball screws


• Tend to vibrate.
• Require periodic overhauling to maintain their efficiency.
• Inclusion of dirt or foreign particles reduces the life of the screws.
• Not as stiff as other power screws, thus deflection and critical speed can cause
difficulties.
• They are not self-locking screws hence cannot be used in holding devices such as
vices.
• Require high levels of lubrication.

5.6 Applications of ball screws:


• Ball screws are employed in cutting machines, such as machining center and NC lathe
where accurate positioning of the table is desired
• Used in the equipments such as lithographic equipment or inspection apparatus where
precise positioning is vital
• High precision ball screws are used in steppers for semiconductor manufacturing
industries for precision assembly of micro parts.
• Used in robotics application where precision positioning is needed.
• Used in medical examination equipments since they are highly accurate and provide
smooth motion.

Joint initiative of IITs and IISc – Funded by MHRD Page 30 of 47

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