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Friction in a Ball Screw Assembly

Ball screws are types of linear actuators which are employed in many ways, especially as a result of the fact that they are linear actuators which typically work with low levels of friction. This occurrence reduces the efficiency of any machine. Friction is a term used to describe a anti-motion effect, that can be observed between a pair of objects that are making contact with each other. The type of surface that each of these substances possesses dictates if, the force obstructing the motion between the bodies will be of a high level. Usually, the smoother the surfaces, the less friction that will occur between the two bodies.

Low friction instruments such as ball screws are highly efficient. This is due to the Law of Conservation of Energy. This rule says that one cannot create or obliterate energy, all that can be done is to transfer it from one type of energy to another. The point of this in relation to ball screws is that energy cannot be made out of thin air, nor can it be made to disappear. If a certain lump of energy has been applied to the ball screw assembly, it is not possible to create anymore by the mechanism of the ball screw. An amount of this energy can be taken from the system however, if is transforms to heat energy as a result of friction. The primary result of this is that if you have low friction in a ball screw assembly, the more efficient it is.

A second advantage of small amounts of friction inside a ball screw assembly is a greater operating lifespan. When two bodies are rubbing together, this will result in wear. The constant rubbing wears away the two bodies, little by little making them smaller. Since ball screws exhibit small amounts of friction, most definitely if they have been lubricated correctly, they have longer lifespans than other varieties of screws.

A further point is that a selection of ball screws can be rotated backwards, directly because of the low friction and free flowing motion in the interior of the ball screw assembly. Therefore there is no difficulties with movements in either direction.