Ball Screw Actuator
Ball screw actuators, also called drive screws, are devices that produce mechanical linear motion by converting rotary motion into mechanical energy through the use of ball screw and ball nut combinations. Tending to be very rigid, ball screw actuators are also highly accurate and precise due to tight manufacturing tolerances as well as the lack of compressibility in the ball bearings.
Highly durable, ball screw actuators can exceed lifetimes of 5,000 km if operated at low loads and speeds; higher loads and speeds lead to typical lifetimes of 3,000 km. A ball screw actuator’s speed is determined by the ball screw’s pitch. The screw lead is the screw pitch multiplied by the number of screw threads, and determines the linear travel of the ball nut per rotation of the screw. Read More…
Leading Manufacturers
Del-Tron Precision, Inc.
Bethel, CT | 203-778-2727Del-Tron Precision, Inc. was founded in order to serve the needs of automated equipment manufacturers for innovative, high quality and reasonably priced anti-friction linear bearings and associated products such as valve actuators.
Burr Engineering & Development Company
Battle Creek, MI | 800-537-9940Utilized in a variety of applications and industries, the products designed and manufactured at Burr Engineering & Development include ball screw actuators and similar mechanisms.
Ultra Motion
Cutchogue, NY | 888-321-9178Ultra Motion designs and manufactures precision electromechanical actuators, and related products, for multiple industries including aerospace, medical, industrial automation, defense, research, and more. Our areas of expertise include extreme power density, fully integrated closed loop servo actuators, multi-turn absolute position sensors, and challenging environments like space, deep sea,...
IAI America, Inc.
Torrance, CA | 800-736-1712At IAI America, we are dedicated to providing value and originality with any product that we provide to you. Our linear actuator model types include slider, folded-motor slider, rod, and single, double, or ball-bushing type guided rod actuators. Our staff members are committed to being available in order to bring you full customer satisfaction while delivering the products that will best suit...
Isotech, Inc.
Hatfield, PA | 800-243-2715Isotech provides a number of different linear actuator & lifting columns for various applications. These products can be customized to meet your specific load requirements and travel distances. You can trust the accuracy of these solutions and the experts at Isotech is always available to assist you with your needs. Feel free to contact them today to learn more information!
Tusk Direct, Inc.
Bethel, CT | 800-447-2042Tusk Direct’s specialty is linear motion components. We offer slides, bearings, lubricants and assemblies compatible with pneumatic or electric actuators and actuator systems.
ElectroCraft, Inc.
Stratham, NH | 844-338-8114ElectroCraft hybrid stepper-based linear actuator solutions provide original equipment manufacturers the precision, performance and reliability that is required for a wide variety of motion control positioning applications. From medical and laboratory equipment to industrial machinery, ElectroCraft offers configurable or completely customizable solutions in three unique product designs: linear...
Actuonix Motion Devices
Saanichton. BC | 206-347-9684Our linear actuators are at the top of the market and on the leading edge of innovation. If you need a new design or modification to an existing design, we are the true professionals that you need to call.
Ball Screw Actuator Manufacturers List
Ball screw actuators with a higher screw pitch provide higher axial movement to a nut faster per a given screw rpm, while those with a lower screw lead produce greater linear thrust. Ballscrew actuators serve a multitude of industries including automotive, aerospace, medical, biotechnology, automation, material handling, semiconductor, pharmaceuticals, food, packaging and electronics.
Ball Screw Actuator - Del-Tron Precision, Inc.Applications that ball screw actuators are utilized in include large-scale automation processes, solar tracking, ventilation, micro-positioning, commercial satellite tracking, laser machining and conveyor belting.
Ball screw linear actuators consist of a ball screw, a train of recirculating ball bearings, a ball nut and a cover tube or housing that attaches to the object, or load, requiring motion. The load is typically attached to the end of the ball screw and unsupported by other means.
The ball bearings travel in opposed, hardened rod tracks or grooves that are cut out inside of the axially-translating ball nut at a particular helix angle. The ball bearings are compressed when circulating in the track and unloaded in the return system: the circulation is caused by either an internal reversing system or a series of external return tubes.
Housed in the ball nut, the ball bearings travel along a ball screw rod. The ball screw rotates in and out of a housing, which is typically constructed from stainless steel, aluminum, plastic or steel. The rotation provides linear motion to the object and can be caused by a synchronous timing belt drive, direct drive or worm gear drive.
In addition, ball screw actuators length is determined by the critical speed of the screw. The critical speed of the screw is directly related to the screw's diameter and is inversely proportional to the square of the unsupported screw's length. Screws with a larger diameter at given unsupported length have higher critical screw speeds than screws with a smaller diameter at the same length.
