Ball Screw Vs Lead Screw

Lead screws are less expensive than ball screws but the issue of which type of screw to use is one which is much more complicated than simply the issue of cost each one has advantages to particular uses which means that sometimes it is contingent on the user to look beyond cost to what would be most appropriate.

Ball screw vs lead screw. The pitch and lead are equal with single start screws. Choosing between a lead screw and a ball screw is relative and will likely depend on the application. A ball screw uses recirculating ball bearings to minimize friction and maximize efficiency while a lead screw depends on low coefficients of friction between sliding surfaces. Lead screws how does the choice of a ballscrew or lead screw affect productivity in a motion centric automation environment.

For multiple start screws the lead is the pitch multiplied by the number of starts. Lead screws vs ball screws when determining which types of screws is best for a movement centric application an engineer has several options. Screws and ball screws. Often the decision must be made as to whether a lead screw assembly or a ball screw assembly will work best in the application.

The basic difference between lead screws vs ball screws is that a ball screw uses ball bearings to eliminate the friction between the nut and screw and lead screws do not. Although lead screws are often seen as less expensive substitutes for ball screws making a decision on which type of screw to use is a lot more complicated than focusing solely on cost. A lead screw therefore typically cannot achieve. The key difference between a ball screw and a lead screw is in the way the load is carried between the moving surfaces.

For example on a vertical application it may be more beneficial to use a lead screw than a ball screw as the lead screw cannot back drive itself.