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Linear Motion Tips

Covering Linear Motion Systems, Components and Linear Motion Resources

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Ball + lead + roller screws

What is a high helix (high lead) screw?

April 14, 2022 By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

Ball and lead screws are specified by the diameter of the screw shaft and the lead (or, in some cases, pitch) of the screw thread. The lead, which specifies how far the nut travels for each revolution of the screw, is created by the thread, or helix, that wraps around the screw shaft. If the […]

Filed Under: Ball + lead + roller screws, Ball + leadscrew driven, FAQs + basics, Featured

How to calculate duty cycle and what it means for machine life

April 4, 2022 By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

linear rails

Determining the life of a linear system that uses balls or rollers is relatively straightforward, thanks to the L10 bearing life equation, which gives life in meters of travel (for linear bearings) or revolutions (for screws). And for plain bearings and lead screws, manufacturers typically use the bearing’s PV value and operating conditions to provide an […]

Filed Under: Applications, Ball + lead + roller screws, FAQs + basics, Featured, Slides + guides (all)

Screw drives see new uses in robotics, other applications

April 1, 2022 By Miles Budimir Leave a Comment

ball screws

Some of the surest, time-tested methods of linear actuation are screw drives. Whether lead- or ball- or roller screws, screw actuation remains a large part of the linear actuation equation, thanks to their reliability, accuracy, and relative simplicity of operation. Recently screw drive developments have included advances in materials as well as manufacturing methods leading […]

Filed Under: Ball + lead + roller screws, Ball + leadscrew driven, Featured, Linear actuators (all), Linear drives (all) Tagged With: dynatect, thomson

Part 2 of 2: Electric actuators as an alternative to hydraulic cylinders

March 16, 2022 By Lisa Eitel Leave a Comment

Here we offer some tips for converting a fluid-power-driven axis to electrical actuation. By Ryan Klemetson • Business Development Manager | Tolomatic, Inc. As explained in Part 1 of this article series on motioncontroltips.com, hydraulic systems offer long service life, but they’re not as efficient as electric systems. Electric systems also provide precise position, velocity, […]

Filed Under: Ball + lead + roller screws, Ball + leadscrew driven, Featured, Linear actuators (all) Tagged With: tolomatic

What is an inverted roller screw and how does it work?

March 14, 2022 By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

inverted roller screw

Roller screws are often thought of as the standard planetary design, but several variations exist, including differential, recirculating, and inverted versions. Each design offers unique benefits in performance capabilities — load capacity, torque, and positioning — but the inverted roller screw’s primary strength is its ability to be easily integrated into actuators and other subassemblies. Recall that […]

Filed Under: Ball + lead + roller screws, Ball + leadscrew driven, FAQs + basics, Featured, Linear actuators (all)

Linear bearing basics: Surface roughness, texture, and finish

March 5, 2022 By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

surface texture and roughness

One of the factors to consider when selecting shafts for linear bearings is surface roughness, which describes the microscopic asperities, or peaks, and valleys present on a material’s surface. But surface roughness is an important specification for all types of linear guides and screws — whether plain or recirculating, round shaft or profiled rail, ball […]

Filed Under: Applications, Ball + lead + roller screws, FAQs + basics, Featured, Slides + guides (all)

Screw handedness: When do you need a left-handed screw?

February 14, 2022 By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

screw handedness

Just like people, ball and lead screws can be either right-handed or left-handed. But in screw terminology, handedness indicates the direction in which the nut moves relative to the direction of the screw’s rotation. By far the most common version is the right-handed screw, in which the nut moves toward you when the screw is […]

Filed Under: Applications, Ball + lead + roller screws, Ball + leadscrew driven, FAQs + basics, Featured

When are stepper motors paired with ball screws (rather than lead screws)?

January 12, 2022 By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

Stepper motors are widely used in industrial and consumer applications ranging from packaging equipment and medical devices to 3D printers and vending machines. They have excellent torque production at (relatively) low speeds — especially for a given motor size — and offer high-resolution positioning in a simple-to-use format. These benefits make them well-suited to drive lead […]

Filed Under: Applications, Ball + lead + roller screws, Ball + leadscrew driven, FAQs + basics, Featured

Motion basics: What is ball conformity in linear guides and screws?

August 26, 2021 By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

ball conformity

In linear guides and ball screws, load-carrying balls or rollers can ride on planar (flat) raceways, as with non-recirculating linear roller bearings, or in curved raceways, as with ball screws and profiled rail guides. When a ball or roller rides on a planar raceway, the contact between the rolling element and the raceway will be […]

Filed Under: Applications, Ball + lead + roller screws, Ball + roller guides, FAQs + basics, Featured, Linear bearings

Motion basics: What is differential slip and how does it affect linear bearings?

August 18, 2021 By Danielle Collins Leave a Comment

differential slip

Linear bearings that use balls or rollers are typically chosen for their ability to carry high loads with very low friction. But rolling elements — including linear bearings — are not friction-free. One of the factors that contributes to friction in linear bearings (along with properties such as surface roughness, elastic hysteresis of the materials, and […]

Filed Under: Ball + lead + roller screws, Ball + roller guides, FAQs + basics, Featured, Linear bearings

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