A ball screw actuator uses a precision machined lead screw and ball bearings to provide high thrust, linear load movement. The balls are arranged to match the pitch of the nut threads, causing the nut to move up or down its length. The actuator produces linear or rectilinear output motion from a rotating input, making it ideal for high-load, precise actuation applications.
A ball screw actuator is a device that provides high thrust, linear load movement used to drive other equipment using a precision machined lead screw and ball bearings. The output motion of the actuators is achieved by placing several rows of captive ball bearings arranged helically within a sleeve which acts as a motion transfer agent. The rows of balls are arranged to match the pitch of the nut threads as it passes through the nut. The balls thus lie in the threads of the nut and, as it rotates, cause the nut to move up or down its length. The nut is, in turn, attached to an actuator arm, which serves to transfer the movement of the dice to the actuated device.
Actuators are remote devices used to produce work by converting a source of energy, typically electric current or compressed gas and oil, into linear or rotary motion. The outgoing motion is then used to switch, move or activate a secondary device where it is impractical or dangerous for an operator to do so. The ball screw actuator is one such device that produces linear or rectilinear output motion from a rotating input. The input energy is typically provided by an electric motor and is translated into a linear output using a carefully machined lead screw and a set of captive ball bearings.
The ball bearings used in the ball screw actuator are seated within carefully machined grooves in a metal or composite sleeve. The lead screw passes through the sleeve with one end supported by a bushing or bearing and the other secured to the motor’s crankshaft. The balls within the sleeve are arranged to match the exact pitch and spacing of the lead screw threads and are positioned to lie snugly within those threads. As the motor spins the lead, the balls act as the rotating threads of the lead, allowing the sleeve to move up and down the length of the lead with minimal friction. The sleeve is attached to the device’s actuator output arm, which transfers its motion to the mechanism requiring activation.
The precise, low-friction movement of the ball screw actuator mechanism allows the device to produce very high drive levels or torques with minimal strain on its working parts. The inherent accuracy of the mechanism also produces very high levels of accuracy in the actuator output. These features make the ball screw actuator an ideal option for high-load, precise actuation applications.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
