If you buy a ball screw or a piece of machinery that has a ball screw assembly it is worth learning the correct care of a mechanism of this kind. A ball screw has a selection of pieces, e.g the ball screw nut, the ball bearings, the screw and the recirculation mechanism. All of these has to be treated correctly, in order to prolong the durability of each ball screw.
Possibly the most important aspect of ball screw maintenance is lubrication. Utilising enough lubricant means that the ball bearings and supplementary parts are capable of moving easily along the screw. This minimises friction, ensuring your ball screw assembly has improved efficiency and maximising its lifetime. It is understood that ball screws which are operated lacking lubrication can experience a lifespan reduction of up to eighty-five percent. A further advantage to utilising lubricants stops water from coming into contact with the metal, defending against oxidation. The best lubricants applied to ball screws and mainly in the ball screw nut apparatus are oil and grease. It is important to note that it is not a good idea to apply grease in a ball screw assembly that is operated extremely quickly, or on a ball screw assembly that is used at low temperatures. It is also important that you never use a grease that includes solid pieces, and you also cannot make use of graphite grease. A lubricant that has solid particles in it can block the ball screw assembly, preventing the ball bearings from moving freely.
Another important maintenance task is to make sure that the ball screw assembly be kept clean. All particles or dirt will cause complications for the behaviour of the ball screw. It is important that you do not use excessive amounts of oil. Overusing oil may block the ball screw nut, sticking the ball bearings and clogging the threads.
