Piezo actuators and motors are often the preferred technology when an application requires movements of a few millimeters or less with high resolution. And while these small-scale applications don’t typically attract the same level of attention as those that require massive 100 mm diameter ball screws or enormous 12-meter gantries, applications in the single- and […]
How to calculate the effect of preload on ball screw axial deflection
In a recent post, we looked at the methods for inducing preload in a ball screw assembly and the effects it has on performance. One of those effects is that preload reduces axial deflection (displacement) and increases rigidity. But preload also increases the applied load on the screw assembly and reduces life. To determine the […]
How do magnetostrictive sensors work?
When a ferromagnetic material — such as iron, nickel, or cobalt — is subjected to an external magnetic field, the magnetic domains within the material align, creating internal stresses that cause the material’s shape or dimensions to change. This phenomenon is referred to as magnetostriction. Conversely, when a magenetostrictive material is subjected to a stress, its magnetic […]
New high-performance linear stages family with ball screw and linear motor options
Compared to the competition, these PI-engineered stages offer higher load capacity, allowing for higher dynamics, often required by industrial applications. The new reference-class linear stages family, L-417 and V-417, from precision nanopositioning global leader PI (Physik Instrumente), are available in ball screw and linear motor configurations, both cost-effective designs, offering high resolution with improved tracking […]
How does a rack and roller pinion work?
A rack and roller pinion system is a variation on the traditional rack and pinion that replaces the toothed pinion (gear) with a cage-type pinion that incorporates bearing-supported rollers. Each roller in the pinion is supported by two needle bearings, which eliminates the sliding friction that occurs in traditional rack and pinion systems. This greatly […]
Ball screw preload: What you need to know
When a linear motion application requires high thrust force and rigidity along with good positioning accuracy, a preloaded ball screw assembly is often the best choice. Manufacturers offer ball screw preload amounts ranging from just 1 or 2 percent for applications where backlash would be detrimental, up to 10 percent or greater for applications that […]
Gallery: Rod style actuator variations and uses
Linear actuators can generally be classified as either slider style or rod style. With a slider style actuator, the motion is constrained to the limits of the housing length and the load is mounted to a slider or table. With a rod style actuator, motion is produced by a rod that extends and retracts from […]
Stepper motors: Differences between permanent magnet, variable reluctance, and hybrid types
Stepper motors are commonly used in linear motion applications for their precise positioning capabilities and good holding torque. And while the basic operating principle is the same for all stepper motors, there are differences in operation and performance between the three primary types: permanent magnet, variable reluctance, and hybrid. Permanent magnet stepper motors Permanent magnet […]
Can a linear actuator provide the rigidity and accuracy of a linear stage?
Although there are no industry standards that define linear actuators and linear stages, generally accepted terminology indicates that a linear actuator is typically constructed with an aluminum extrusion or base, while a linear stage is typically built on a flat, machined steel or granite base. This distinction implies that linear actuators can typically provide longer […]
Why use a multi-start ball screw?
The easiest way to get higher speed from a ball screw assembly (within the screw’s critical speed limit, which is based on diameter, length, and end fixity) is to use a higher screw lead. But increasing the lead of the screw has a drawback: as the lead increases, the number of effective turns in the […]
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