​How to reduce the influence of temperature on ball screw assembly?

As an integral part of industrial machines and processes,ball screw assemblies often operate in high temperature environments.Heat can be generated by other mechanical and electrical components in the machine and,in some cases,is a by-product of the process itself.And,like other moving products with sliding or rolling friction,ball screws generate their own heat when they operate.This heat,especially temperature variations over time,can have a detrimental effect on the function of the screw.But there are ways to mitigate the heat and reduce its impact on life and accuracy.

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●The most direct preventive measure is to choose the largest possible lead.The larger the lead,the farther the stroke per revolution and therefore the slower the screw will travel a given distance in a given time.The slower the speed of rotation,the lower the heat generation.

●Another preventive measure includes the selection of a suitable preload for the application.Preload is usually related to stiffness,but its effect on stiffness is much less significant than its effect on heat generation.To help avoid excessive heat generation,designers should select the lowest acceptable preload for the application and rely on the end bearing configuration to provide the necessary stiffness.

Comparing 5% and 10% preload levels,the higher preload causes more than double the temperature rise,while its effect on rigidity is minimal.

●There is also a relationship between temperature rise and lubrication.Lubrication generates heat over time,and this effect is more pronounced when the base oil viscosity of the lubricant is higher.Therefore,when the application involves high temperatures,it is best to choose a lubricant with a lower viscosity.Another important factor is to apply the right amount of lubrication,as this will help avoid heat generation due to rolling or sliding friction.

●From a ball screw assembly design perspective,there are several options to mitigate the effects of heat.First,screws can be mounted under tension to help offset any expansion due to screw temperature rise.In addition,hollow screws can be used in conjunction with an internal cooling mechanism to reduce the temperature of the screw.External forced air cooling can also be effective in mitigating heat and is often easier to implement than internal cooling.

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