Investigation of the Contact Characteristics of a Single-Nut Ball Screw Considering Geometric Errors
As the critical performance index of ball screws, the contact characteristics have a significant influence on the lubricant properties, tribological properties, and wear properties of ball screws, which further directly affect the service life of ball screws. The non-uniform load distribution induce...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Lubricants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/13/2/57 |
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| _version_ | 1849744637264134144 |
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| author | Jun Liu Huaxi Zhou Xiaoyi Wang Changguang Zhou |
| author_facet | Jun Liu Huaxi Zhou Xiaoyi Wang Changguang Zhou |
| author_sort | Jun Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | As the critical performance index of ball screws, the contact characteristics have a significant influence on the lubricant properties, tribological properties, and wear properties of ball screws, which further directly affect the service life of ball screws. The non-uniform load distribution induced by geometric errors results in imbalances among balls along the nut, negatively impacting the service life of ball screws. This study focuses on the load distribution of single-nut ball screws under low-speed working conditions. This paper proposes a self-adjustable model of load distribution that considers the flexibility of the screw and nut with respect to the determination of the non-bearing ball. A refined model for axial stiffness is proposed to systematically analyze the influence of geometric errors on stiffness variations under various loading conditions. The results confirm the ability of the proposed model to reveal the static load distribution in view of geometric errors. The greatest discrepancy observed between the theoretical predictions and the experimental data was 9.22%. The numerical simulations demonstrate variation trends in the normal contact load, the loaded-ball number, and the axial deformation of a nut with geometric errors. Furthermore, the relationship between the axial stiffness of a single-nut ball screw and the geometric error is obtained. The self-adjustable model of load distribution is helpful for studying the carrying capacity of a single-nut ball screw. The findings of the study provide a definite reference for optimization of structural design and wear life prediction. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-85351406e3314e259365df0f870f6f8d |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2075-4442 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Lubricants |
| spelling | doaj-art-85351406e3314e259365df0f870f6f8d2025-08-20T03:12:02ZengMDPI AGLubricants2075-44422025-01-011325710.3390/lubricants13020057Investigation of the Contact Characteristics of a Single-Nut Ball Screw Considering Geometric ErrorsJun Liu0Huaxi Zhou1Xiaoyi Wang2Changguang Zhou3Department of Digital Equipment, Jiangsu Vocational College of Electronics and Information, Huai’an 223003, ChinaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430048, ChinaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan 430048, ChinaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, ChinaAs the critical performance index of ball screws, the contact characteristics have a significant influence on the lubricant properties, tribological properties, and wear properties of ball screws, which further directly affect the service life of ball screws. The non-uniform load distribution induced by geometric errors results in imbalances among balls along the nut, negatively impacting the service life of ball screws. This study focuses on the load distribution of single-nut ball screws under low-speed working conditions. This paper proposes a self-adjustable model of load distribution that considers the flexibility of the screw and nut with respect to the determination of the non-bearing ball. A refined model for axial stiffness is proposed to systematically analyze the influence of geometric errors on stiffness variations under various loading conditions. The results confirm the ability of the proposed model to reveal the static load distribution in view of geometric errors. The greatest discrepancy observed between the theoretical predictions and the experimental data was 9.22%. The numerical simulations demonstrate variation trends in the normal contact load, the loaded-ball number, and the axial deformation of a nut with geometric errors. Furthermore, the relationship between the axial stiffness of a single-nut ball screw and the geometric error is obtained. The self-adjustable model of load distribution is helpful for studying the carrying capacity of a single-nut ball screw. The findings of the study provide a definite reference for optimization of structural design and wear life prediction.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/13/2/57ball screwload distributiongeometric errorcontact angleaxial stiffness |
| spellingShingle | Jun Liu Huaxi Zhou Xiaoyi Wang Changguang Zhou Investigation of the Contact Characteristics of a Single-Nut Ball Screw Considering Geometric Errors Lubricants ball screw load distribution geometric error contact angle axial stiffness |
| title | Investigation of the Contact Characteristics of a Single-Nut Ball Screw Considering Geometric Errors |
| title_full | Investigation of the Contact Characteristics of a Single-Nut Ball Screw Considering Geometric Errors |
| title_fullStr | Investigation of the Contact Characteristics of a Single-Nut Ball Screw Considering Geometric Errors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigation of the Contact Characteristics of a Single-Nut Ball Screw Considering Geometric Errors |
| title_short | Investigation of the Contact Characteristics of a Single-Nut Ball Screw Considering Geometric Errors |
| title_sort | investigation of the contact characteristics of a single nut ball screw considering geometric errors |
| topic | ball screw load distribution geometric error contact angle axial stiffness |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/13/2/57 |
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