Skip to main content
Log in

Analysis of contact characteristics of ball screws under the combined loads considering non-uniform load distribution

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An analysis model of the contact characteristics of the double-nut preloaded ball screw which can consider the combined action of the axial load and the overturning moment is established, the model can consider non-uniform load distribution, and the validity of the model is verified by experiments. Based on this model, the influence of the combined action of axial load and overturning moment on the average value and distribution fluctuation value of the contact angle of the ball screw, the number of unloaded balls, the distribution fluctuation value of the contact load, and the static contact stiffness and other contact parameters are systematically analyzed, and get the following conclusions: The contact parameters of the ball screw are mainly affected by the axial load and the contact state between the ball and the raceway. The gradually increasing axial load basically reduces the influence of the overturning moment on the contact parameters of the ball screw. There is a critical value of the load in the axial direction within the range of the action value of the preload load. Only when the critical value is above the critical value, the contact parameters will change regularly with the changes in the axial stiffness and overturning moment. However, different critical values for the regular variation of contact parameters with axial load and overturning moment vary.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

α p :

Contact angle between ball and raceway after preload

δ :

Contact deformation between ball and raceway

a :

Contact angle between ball and raceway contact surface

A :

Distance between the center of curvature of the screw raceway and nut raceway after deformation

θ :

Ball phase angle

α :

Helix angle

r 0 :

Nominal radius

Q :

Normal contact force between ball and raceway contact surface

F :

External load

K :

Static contact stiffness

References

  1. Y. Altintas, A. Verl, C. Brecher, L. Uriarte and G. Pritschow, Machine tool feed drives, CIRP Annals — Manufacturing Technology, 60 (2011) 779–796.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. N. Zhen and Q. An, Analysis of stress and fatigue life of ball screw with considering the dimension errors of balls, International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, 137 (2018) 68–76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. O. E. Chinedum, Improved screw-nut interface model for high-performance ball screw drives, Journal of Mechanical Design, 133 (2011) 041009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. H. X. Zhou, C. G. Zhou, H. T. Feng and Y. Ou, Theoretical and experimental analysis of the preload degradation of double-nut ball screws, Precision Engineering, 65 (2020).

  5. Y. Chen, C. Zhao, S. Zhang and X. Meng, Analysis on load distribution and contact stiffness of single-nut ball screw based on the whole rolling elements model, Transactions-Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering, 43 (3) (2019).

  6. X. Jingyao, Z. Changguang, F. Hutian and Z. Luchao, Load distribution of double nut ball screws with consideration of geometric errors and overturning moment, China Mechanical Engineering, 32 (2021) 1181–1190.

    Google Scholar 

  7. J. Zhao, M. Lin, X. Song and W. Nan, Coupling analysis of the fatigue life and the TEHL contact behavior of ball screw under the multidirectional load, Industrial Lubrication and Tribology (2020) (ahead-of-print).

  8. R. Bertolaso, M. Cheikh, Y. Barranger, J.-C. Dupré, A. Germaneau and P. Doumalin, Experimental and numerical study of the load distribution in a ball-screw system, Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 28 (2014) 1411–1420.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. B. Lin, C. E. Okwudire and J. S. Wou, Low order static load distribution model for ball screw mechanisms including effects of lateral deformation and geometric errors, Journal of Mechanical Design, 140 (2) (2017).

  10. L. Sangalli, A. Oyanguren, J. Larraaga, A. Arana, M. Izquierdo and I. Ulacia, Numerical characterization of local and global non-uniformities in the load distribution in ball screws, The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 118 (2022) 1411–1425.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. J. Zhao, M. Lin, X. Song and Q. Guo, Investigation of load distribution and deformations for ball screws with the effects of turning torque and geometric errors, Mechanism and Machine Theory, 141 (2019) 95–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. C. Liu, C. Zhao, X. Meng and B. Wen, Static load distribution analysis of ball screws with nut position variation, Mechanism and Machine Theory, 151 (2020) 103893.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Y. J. Chen, W. C. Tang and J. L. Wang, Influence factors on stiffness of a ball screw, Journal of Vibration and Shock (2013).

  14. J. Liu, H. Feng and C. Zhou, Static load distribution and axial static contact stiffness of a preloaded double-nut ball screw considering geometric errors, Mechanism and Machine Theory, 167 (2022).

  15. Y. J. Chen and W. C. Tang, Determination of contact stiffness in ball screws considering variable contact angles, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C. Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science, 228 (2014) 2193–2203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Research Program supported by the Department of China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Postdoctoral Science Foundation Project), China.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yongjiang Chen.

Additional information

Yongjiang Chen is a post doctor of the Hefei Institute of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, China. He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Southeast University. His research interests include Mechanical Statics and Dynamics Analysis, performance parameter measurement and processing.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chen, Y., Zhao, J., Yuan, C. et al. Analysis of contact characteristics of ball screws under the combined loads considering non-uniform load distribution. J Mech Sci Technol 37, 1613–1621 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-023-0304-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-023-0304-1

Keywords

Navigation