Miniature metric ball screws for high load capacity in a small footprint
Thomson Industries, Inc, a manufacturer of linear motion solutions, has announced the availability of new German-engineered precision ball screw sizes with US-based distribution and machining.
The Thomson miniature metric ball screw line uses a multi-start ball return design that maximizes support for higher loads. This design provides precise, smooth and quiet operation for applications requiring high precision and load handling in confined spaces.
To achieve specified load capacity, designers of laboratory, medical and other space-constrained mechatronics applications must often choose a larger nut, which makes the final equipment larger than it needs to be,
said Denise Goldman, senior product manager for ball screws at Thomson. Thanks to our unique ball return system and precision product manufacturing expertise, we can deliver a smaller assembly with higher load handling capacity.
Using more balls enables higher loads to be supported. Thomson miniature metric ball screws accomplish this with a multi-liner return system that maximizes the number of circuits and loaded balls in the nut. A miniature metric system with a multi-liner return system, for example, deploys 168 balls in eight circuits to support 7.6 kN of static load, compared to a single-liner design, which would use 84 balls in four circuits to support only 4.2 kN.
Maximizing the number of balls within a single nut also extends the life of the system by spreading the load across multiple points. The Thomson multi-liner return system floats axially to compensate for misalignment.
The miniature metric ball screws are suitable for designers who specify linear motion components with minimal space requirements. Common applications include diagnostic and life science instruments, such as chemistry analysers; test and measurement equipment (eg torque testers); fluid pumping, such as medical infusion pumps; and robotics and pick and place equipment (engraving, scanning and printing machines, for example).
The new miniature metric ball screws with multi-liner ball return system are available in 8 x 2.5, 8 x 5, 10 x 2, 10 x 3 and 12 x 2mm diameters. Additional size options are in development. Mounting interface options include threaded, flanged or cylindrical.
All options feature carbon steel construction, high-performance repeatability (0.05mm backlash) and ±52µm/300mm standard lead accuracy (T7). Miniature metric ball screws can also be ordered with custom coatings such as thin dense chrome and black oxide coating.