Ball screw assemblies are a high precision piece of equipment. Their design involves heavy ball screw engineering, but that doesn’t mean they’re not susceptible to failure. In fact, ball screws are more easily damaged than conventional lead screws. You have to know the common issues with ball screw assemblies to be able to properly maintain and prolong its life. We identified two of the most common ones you’re likely to run across in your assembly; uncover them below.
Regular Maintenance
When ball screws aren’t properly maintained, there are various issues that could arise. This is due to the fact that ball screw assemblies require proper lubrication and clean working environments at all times.
Proper lubrication enhances the efficiency of a ball screw by reducing friction and preventing corrosion. When ball screws fail to be properly lubricated, their wear life drops significantly low.
When choosing a lubricant, be mindful of the grease you use. Certain kinds of grease can cause the ball screw to become clogged.
Keeping a clean environment can also reduce significant issues with a ball screw assembly. This is because debris such as chips, dirt, or other pollutants can drive the ball screw assembly into failure. Lubricant that becomes invaded by these outside factors can also clog the ball screw return system.
To actively prolong the life of your ball screw, you have to make regular maintenance, such as lubrication and cleaning, part of your routine.
Proper Alignment
Proper alignment and load applications are needed for a ball screw’s positioning accuracy and prolonged wear life. These are four examples of the issues that can cause a ball screw to be overloaded or poorly aligned.
- Radial, bending, and overturning loads.
- The gib and linear bearings have been adjusted too tight.
- The air and hydrostatic bearings aren’t functioning properly.
- The counterbalances aren’t functioning.
When these instances occur, they contribute to the overload of the ball screw and nut assembly. This will ultimately lead to ball screw failure and poor positioning accuracy.
Care Tips
To reduce the issues mentioned above, there are a few ways for you to properly care for and maintain your ball screw assembly. These actions include:
- Using the correct lubricant.
- Keeping a clean working environment.
- Ensuring extra ball screws are properly stored.
- Regularly check coolants for any rust or gum content.
These are two of the most common issues that occur with ball screw assemblies. Being able to identify these two will allow you to take the preventative measures needed to prolong the life and quality of your ball screw assembly.
However, our team at Wedin understands the fact that issues can sometimes be inevitable. For that reason, we dedicate ourselves to being a ball screw refurbishment company that can provide you with the solutions you need to get back up and running. If you find yourself searching for a company you can rely on for ball screw repairs, rebuilds, refurbishes, and reloads, give us a call. Our team is ready to help 24/7.