Backlash is an inherent property of lead screw assemblies due to the sliding motion between the screw and the nut. For some applications, a certain amount of backlash, or “play,” can be tolerated, but applications such as positioning, dispensing, or assembly often require a level of precision and repeatability that can’t be achieved if backlash […]
What’s the difference between ball screw critical speed and characteristic speed?
Ball screw drives incorporate two primary moving components: the rotating screw shaft and the nut that traverses the screw. (The radial bearings that support the screw shaft play a minor role for the purposes of this discussion.) This means that to accurately determine the maximum allowable speed of a ball screw assembly, there are two […]
Motion basics: Difference between Cartesian and polar coordinate systems
Coordinate systems provide a way to define a point in space in either one, two, or three dimensions. The most prevalent coordinate system used in linear motion applications is the Cartesian system. Cartesian coordinates define a position as the linear distance from the origin in two or three mutually perpendicular axes. The origin is the […]
What types of motion can you create with multi-axis linear systems?
For many tasks, multi-axis linear systems — Cartesian robots, X-Y tables, and gantry systems — travel in straight lines to achieve quick point-to-point movements. But some applications, such as dispensing and cutting, require the system to follow a circular path or a complex shape that can’t be created by simple lines and arcs. Fortunately, modern […]
What is a follower nut, and what role does it play in lead screw operation?
Although the idea of a “follower nut” may seem to indicate that the nut serves a passive role in lead screw operation, it actually plays an important part in monitoring the condition and life of the screw assembly. The wear characteristics of a lead screw nut make the expected service life of the assembly difficult […]
New Thomson video shows customer’s use of electric actuator synchronization option
Thomson Industries, Inc., a leading manufacturer of linear motion control solutions, has released a video showing how the synchronization feature available with its Electrak HD electromechanical linear actuators helped Spika Design and Manufacturing address a growing customer demand. Spika is a Montana-based provider of commercial and custom industrial work platforms suitable for a wide variety of […]
What are needle roller linear bearings?
You might be familiar with rotary needle roller bearings (often referred to as simply “needle roller bearings”), which are used extensively in automotive and industrial power transmission applications due to their compact size and high load-carrying capability. But did you know that some linear bearings also use needle rollers? For linear bearings, needle rollers were […]
Why are cages used in crossed roller guides?
Crossed roller guides are non-recirculating linear bearings whose rollers are oriented in a “crisscross” pattern (each roller is turned 90 degrees relative to the one next to it) and move between two parallel guides with V-shaped grooves. Because the rollers don’t recirculate, these guides provide high load capacity and good stiffness, with smoother motion than […]
When to use linear bearings and ball nuts with ceramic balls
Ball nut preload: What effect does it have on bearing life?
Ball nut preload offers several benefits to screw assemblies, but the most common reason for using a preloaded ball nut is to reduce axial play, or backlash, caused by clearance between the screw and nut raceways. Reducing this axial play does two things. It improves the repeatability of the screw assembly — meaning the assembly […]
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