Motion Control & Drives


Transportation ball screws in high demand

April 2023 Motion Control & Drives

Transportation ball screws are popular across industry as a cost-effective alternative to precision ground ball screws. The manufacturing process is ideal for applications that do not require the finite precision of a ground ball screw, but must still reliably transmit linear loads, and provide high-speed, yet accurate, positioning. For such applications, NSK’s transportation ball screws – namely the PR/LPR and BS Interchangeable series – are in high demand.

NSK’s transportation ball screws are the perfect linear motion system for applications that include woodworking, sheet metalworking, packaging operations, pick and place systems, and automated transfer units, to list but a few. Both the PR/LPR and BS Interchangeable series can deliver fast cycle times, thanks to a permissible rotational speed of up to 5000 rpm. Despite this high speed, there is no compromise in precision, with both ball screws offering accuracy class Ct7.

Further attributes of PR/LPR and BS Interchangeable ball screws include NSK’s innovative end deflector recirculation system, which helps to facilitate the aforementioned high speed. The end deflector, with its optimised smooth ball recirculation design, also reduces noise emissions by half, in comparison with conventional systems.

Another advantage is NSK’s optional K1 lubrication unit. This pioneering lubrication system applies grease throughout a machine’s life, making it a sustainable and environmentally-friendly way of providing long-term, maintenance-free operations. In combination with a grease-retaining seal, the K1 unit contributes to low total cost of ownership. Also available is NSK’s K1 kit for retrofit applications.

NSK’s LPR/PR series of transportation ball screws are preloaded and pre-assembled − the compact nut is already mounted on the shaft to set the preload. Available in lengths up to 4 m, these popular ball screws offer zero backlash operation.

The main characteristic of NSK’s BS Interchangeable transportation ball screw series is the separately-available shaft and nut, which are universally exchangeable, with less than 20 µm clearance, for easy installation. This free interchange of nut and shaft also means that the machine builder, or an authorised NSK dealer, can cut the ball screw to length as necessary. The result is greater flexibility and the rapid availability of DIN-compliant ball screws in individual dimensions up to 2 m maximum, perhaps for special machines or prototypes, for example.

Thanks to the engineering and performance attributes of these two NSK transportation ball screw series, the machine building community can continue leveraging fast and accurate linear motion. Furthermore, the inherent quality of the ball screws ensures reliable and repeatable positioning to enhance brand reputation and help grow market share.




Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Plastics improve machine performance and reliability
igus Motion Control & Drives
Engineered plastics from German polymer manufacturer, igus continue to revolutionise mechanical systems across various industries worldwide, with a pledge to ‘improve what moves’ by replacing moving steel components with polymer equivalents.

Read more...
Integrated solutions power the future of mining
ABB South Africa Motion Control & Drives
ABB has a diverse array of solutions that cater to multiple industry sectors, and especially mining. Mining companies across South Africa are embracing automation and control technologies.

Read more...
Keeping the ball rolling
Bearing Man Group t/a BMG Motion Control & Drives
BMG’s Fluid Technology team has recently completed the design, supply and commissioning of an advanced lubrication system for a main bearing on a ball mill, which has been developed to optimise productivity and minimise maintenance requirements and downtime.

Read more...
Get your bearings right
Bearing Man Group t/a BMG Motion Control & Drives
BMG’s Bearings Division offers a comprehensive range of bearings, which comprise ball, roller, and linear bearings ranging in size from miniature to extremely large units.

Read more...
SEW-EURODRIVE prioritises ecology and economy
SEW-EURODRIVE Motion Control & Drives
Committed to environmental sustainability principles, SEW-EURODRIVE has developed the ECO2 design to offer drives with uncoated aluminium, with no compromise in their performance and durability.

Read more...
A year of innovation and milestones for ISO-Reliability Partners
Motion Control & Drives
For ISO-Reliability Partners 2024 was a transformative year marked by innovation, collaboration and a steadfast commitment to advancing industrial reliability. Guided by CEO, Craig FitzGerald, the company has introduced cutting-edge technologies, expanded its product portfolio and strengthened its reputation as a leader in lubrication, filtration and tribology.

Read more...
The impact of gearless mill drive technology on CO2 emissions
ABB South Africa Motion Control & Drives
ABB has released an in-depth white paper detailing the vital role that gearless grinding technologies can play in driving productivity in mining while simultaneously reducing their carbon footprint.

Read more...
Global geared motors market
Motion Control & Drives
The global geared motors market experienced significant growth from 2021 to 2023, driven by market recovery following the pandemic in 2020, and high backlog levels in 2022.

Read more...
Innovative new products from maxon
DNH Tradeserve t/a DNH Technologies Motion Control & Drives
A series of innovative new products has been launched by maxon. These include a drive with a diameter of just 16 millimetres, a controller that can be easily integrated into even the tightest of spaces, and a robust and reliable robotic actuator.

Read more...
Effective dust control
Motion Control & Drives
BLT WORLD, in conjunction with the global ScrapeTec team, plays an important role throughout Africa by assisting companies, during conveyor handling, to manage dust emission and material spillage effectively.

Read more...