Ball screws are highly efficient feed screws. Their rolling motion differentiates them from other products on the market today, as it allows for precise and smooth linear movements. Manufacturers appreciate having access to these devices for applications requiring accurate measurements. They need to know How precision ball screws are revolutionizing advanced manufacturing so they can benefit from their use in more places.
CNC Machining
One reason ball screws are becoming more popular today is they integrate with computer numerical control (CNC) machine tools. These machines use computerized controls in automated processes. These processes are used to create complex parts with extreme precision. They offer the exact linear motion needed to drive the motion of the cutting tools. With the use of CNC machines, a manufacturer can create parts with dramatically tighter tolerances, complex geometries, and superior surface finishes to better meet its customers’ needs.
Enabling Advancements Across Manufacturing Processes
However, CNC machining is only one area that will benefit from the use of ball screws. Manufacturers making use of injection molding find ball screws to be of help in controlling the mold’s motion. They can easily produce intricate plastic parts of the highest quality. Additive manufacturing devices often rely on ball screws as well. The screws position the print head or laser, allowing for more complex designs.
Revolutionizing Industrial Robotics
Industrial robotics is another area where ball screws will be found. Robotic assembly and other automated processes require delicate motions. Human error becomes a concern when these tasks are left to workers. Machines making use of ball screws can carry out these motions with exceptional accuracy and repeatability. Thanks to this technology, robots are becoming more sophisticated every day, allowing them to take on more tasks previously carried out by humans.
Advancing Medical and Scientific Instrumentation
The medical and scientific instrumentation field is also benefiting from ball screws. These devices are found in surgical robots, imaging systems, and more. Micrometer-level motion control is often needed in this sector, and ball screws can provide it. Minimally invasive surgery is one area that benefits greatly from these tools.
Transforming Manufacturing Facility Design
Ball screws do more than improve the way individual machines and systems work. They are also altering manufacturing facility design. As the ball screws allow for precise, high-speed linear motion, equipment manufacturers can make smaller machines. This in turn has led to more compact production lines. Manufacturers find they can reconfigure the space to meet changing consumer needs. They can quickly implement new processes and technologies.
What’s Ahead?
Ball screw manufacturers continue to find ways to improve their products. Manufacturers are then able to improve their processes and their products. Things to watch for in ball screw manufacturing in the coming months and years include improvements in materials, lubrication, and control systems. Expect the products to be faster, more accurate, and longer-lasting than ever before.
Ball screws are here to stay. Their popularity will probably increase in the coming years as manufacturers improve on these devices. While they may not appear to be much, they are priceless in many applications today.
