Ground vs. Rolled Ball Screws

Ground vs. Rolled Ball Screws: Which One Has Higher Accuracy?

Ground ball screws and rolled ball screws are two different manufacturing processes that differ significantly in terms of production process, properties and applications. Below is a detailed comparison of the two manufacturing methods:

1. Manufacturing Process

  • Ground ball screws:

Grinding is a precision machining process that is usually performed using a grinder after rough machining. First, the screw is preliminarily machined using a cutting tool, and then the surface is ground using a grinder to achieve higher dimensional accuracy and surface finish.
The grinding process is suitable for applications with high surface requirements and strict precision requirements.

  • Rolled ball screws:

Rolling is a plastic forming process that changes the shape and size of the material by applying pressure to it and passing it between rollers. Rolled ball screws are usually achieved by cold or hot rolling, which can be used in larger batches.
The rolling process is suitable for large-scale production with good material properties.

2. Accuracy and Surface Quality

  • Ground ball screws:

The advantage of grinding is that it can achieve high accuracy and good surface quality. Generally, the surface roughness after grinding can reach Ra 0.2-0.4 microns.
Subsequent heat treatment is required after grinding to remove the internal stress during processing to ensure the matching performance of the nut.

  • Rolled ball screw:

The precision of rolled ball screw is relatively low, but with the advancement of technology, the precision of rolling process is also constantly improving. Generally, the surface roughness of rolling is between Ra 1.0-3.2 microns.
The surface finish of rolled products is usually not as good as grinding, but the mechanical properties of the material may be better due to ridges and plastic deformation.

3. Applicable Occasions

  • Grond ball screw:

It is suitable for applications requiring high precision, high load and wear resistance, such as high-end CNC machine tools, differential equipment, etc.
Commonly used in mechanical devices that need to run for a long time and have high operating accuracy requirements.

  • Rolled ball screw:

It is suitable for mass production with less stringent precision requirements, such as general industrial equipment, machine tools, etc.
It is suitable for occasions with high cost requirements and less demanding performance requirements.

4. Cost

  • Grond ball screw:

Due to the complex process, the grinding process takes a long time and the equipment investment is high, so its cost is relatively high.

  • Rolled ball screw:

The rolling process is suitable for mass production, the process is relatively simple, and the cost is relatively low.

Summary

In general, there are significant differences between ground ball screws and rolled ball screws in terms of process, precision, surface quality, application occasions and cost. Choosing the appropriate type of ball screw needs to be judged based on specific application requirements and cost considerations. I hope this information can help you understand the difference between these two production processes more clearly.

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