As an integral part of industrial machines and processes, ball screw assemblies often operate in environments with elevated temperatures. Heat can be generated by other mechanical and electrical components…
Five things to consider in vertical applications
Mounting orientation is one the core considerations when sizing and selecting a linear actuator. Depending on the type of linear guides used, some actuators can support higher downward…
Common ball screw terms explained
When discussing ball screw assemblies, there is often confusion surrounding common nomenclature used to describe their structure and operation. Circuits, turns, lead, pitch, and starts are all widely used,…
Bearing load capacity explained
There are two load capacity specifications for recirculating linear guides and ball screws—static load capacity and dynamic load capacity. Most engineers are familiar with dynamic load capacity, since this…
Lubrication: Grease or Oil?
Lack of lubrication is generally regarded as the number one cause of bearing failure. For recirculating linear bearings, such as profiled rail guides and ball screws, lubrication separates…
A selection guide for linear systems
Gone are the days when machine designers and builders had to choose between constructing their own linear system from scratch or settling for a limited range of pre-assembled systems that,…
Ball screw lubricant from Nook Industries
Nook Industries, a leading innovator of linear motion components and systems, offers E-900 ball screw lubricant for use on any of its ball screw products, such as ball screw…
Standard ball screws now available from Nook Industries
Nook Industries, a leading innovator of linear motion components and systems, proudly offers a complete line of standard ball screw products. An upgrade from acme screws, ball screws…
Programmable actuators available with ball screws or Acme screws, and servo or stepper-drive systems.
Nook Industries’ line of Series 500 programmable actuators are designed for continuous duty and long service life. The Series 500 uses a direct or toothed-belt drive for better…
Happy Earth Day! How designers and engineers can make a difference
According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), the Industrial sector was responsible for 51 percent of global energy consumption in 2011 (the latest year for which figures are…
What happens when you combine a planetary gear with a ball screw?
Answer: You get a planetary roller screw. Replacing the recirculating balls of a ball screw with grooved rollers results in a precision drive mechanism with extremely high load capacity,…
New line of stepper motors from Nook Industries
Nook Industries has introduced a line of new stepper motors designed to provide a total, single source for linear motion solutions. The new line can power ball screws,…
QA1 releases staked design & quick connect/disconnect ball joints
QA1 Precision Products, Inc., is excited to release staked design ball joints and quick connect/disconnect style ball joints for the industrial market. In the widely used staked design ball joint, the tube is swaged around the ball for a metal-to-metal ball joint that doesn’t allow excessive play. QA1’s staked design ball joints include a rubber…
A User’s Guide to Preload
Applications that use linear bearings or ball screws often require precise positioning, which means that the motion components must be rigid. And while recirculating ball guides and screws…
Can Lead Screws Outperform Ball Screws?
Lead screws are often regarded as the less expensive alternative to ball screws – suitable only for light-duty applications with low precision requirements. While it’s true that ball…
Twelve Days of Automation
In honor of the upcoming holiday, here’s an Automation spin to the classic song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” On the first day of Christmas An Engineer gave…
Five Ways to Make Your Linear System Cleanroom Friendly
Implementing linear motion in a cleanroom presents a particularly difficult challenge, since motion – whether rolling or sliding – necessarily produces particles. But by understanding the sources that…
Linear Motion in the Third Industrial Revolution
According to The Economist magazine, a third revolution is coming for the manufacturing industry, ushered in by 3D printing, new materials, and collaborative manufacturing services. Anyone who has…
Thomson recognized as 2014 Control Design Readers’ Choice in linear motion actuator/slide/guide category
Thomson Industries, Inc., has been recognized by the readers of Control Design magazine as the 2014 Readers’ Choice for technology excellence in the Linear Motion Actuator/Slide/Guide category. The…
Linear Motor vs. Ball Screw
While ironless linear motors have been used in semiconductor and electronic applications for more than a decade, they are still viewed by many designers and OEMs as “niche”…
Motorized lead screw range offers more thrust, smaller footprint & easier maintenance
Thomson Industries Inc., a manufacturer of mechanical motion control solutions, introduces its new range of Motorized Lead Screws. The precision engineered units combine a hybrid stepper motor and…
Make No Mistakes About Lead Error
Accuracy is an important criteria in ball screw selection. But with two production methods and four different standards governing ball screw accuracy, making the best selection for your…
We’ve Got You Covered: A Quick Guide to Platings and Coatings
Machine builders and end users have many factors to consider when choosing linear motion components and systems – travel length, speed, acceleration, positioning accuracy and repeatability, just to…
Long Travel vs High Speed: Part 2
In a recent post, we discussed using ball screw supports as a way to overcome the tradeoff between long travel length and high speed in ball screw applications….
Three Ways to Save Space with Linear Actuators
Linear actuators are available in configurations that address virtually any application – rail, shaft, or cam roller guideway; screw, belt, or linear motor drive; with or without protective…