Technical Information Drive Technology

A ball screw (or precision ball screw) is a mechanical drive element that converts rotary motion into linear motion. Balls roll between the screw shaft and nut, minimizing friction and achieving high efficiency. Ball screws are essential components in precision linear motion systems. 

When the screw shaft rotates, balls roll in the raceways between the screw shaft and ball nut. The balls move along the thread profile and are recirculated through deflector systems or internal return channels. This creates linear movement of the nut. Alternatively, in some applications the nut rotates while the screw shaft remains stationary. The operating principle remains the same. 

Ball screws are used in numerous applications requiring linear motion with high efficiency. They are particularly essential where high precision, repeatability, and efficiency are needed – such as in CNC machine tools, precision measurement systems, medical technology, semiconductor manufacturing, robotics and industrial automation. 

The key difference lies in the operating principle: ball screws work with rolling friction, while lead screws are based on sliding friction. This results in ball screws achieving significantly higher efficiency than lead screws. 

Depending on the design variant, different technical characteristics emerge for the application. For example, ball screws are typically not self-locking, while lead screws can be designed as self-locking variants. 

Ball screws offer decisive advantages for high-precision and dynamic linear motion applications. They achieve extremely high efficiency, typically over 90 percent. Ball screws are characterized by high positioning accuracy, repeatability, and uniform torque characteristics. 

Due to reduced friction and uniform load distribution across the balls, ball screws offer significantly longer service life than other systems. Low wear makes them low-maintenance and enables lifetime lubrication in ideal cases. 

Ball screws are primarily distinguished by shaft manufacturing. Shafts can be ground or rolled. Ground ball screws offer highest precision and performance for demanding applications, while rolled ball screws are suitable for standard applications. 

Further key design distinctions concern the nut configuration – single nut or double nut designs, as well as flange nuts, threaded nuts, and cylindrical nuts. An additional distinguishing feature is the ball recirculation system design. 

Beyond this, further criteria such as diameter, lead, and material can vary depending on the application. Steinmeyer offers custom ball screws tailored to individual customer requirements – from technical design to manufacturing, all from a single source. 

Selecting the appropriate ball screw depends on your application's specific requirements. Key selection criteria include: required positioning accuracy, loads to be moved, desired service life, speeds, travel distance, and available installation space. Environmental conditions such as coolant exposure, vacuum, or extreme temperatures also play an important role. Steinmeyer's application engineers are happy to support you with optimal sizing – from service life calculations to selecting the right components for your specific application.