Ballscrew Accuracy vs. Repeatbility
Ballscrew Accuracy vs. Repeatbility
(OP)
I'm working on an application involving ballscrews and I want to make sure my knowledge is up to snuff. I've been reading a lot about them, and I often see statements that say accuracy vs. repeatability requirements are often mis-understood, but don't provide a good context on why, and how you determine what your accuracy spec should be.
I understand the repeatability is how much the linear distance traveled can change when you try to return to a position you've already been to. In addition, I believe that I understand that the accuracy of the ballscrew refers to how much the pitch of the screw varies from the nominal value, due to the screw manufacturing procedure. For example, if the screw is a 5mm pitch, the accuracy spec allows you to receive a ballscrew that actually moves 4.999mm/rev, or 5.001mm/rev. Is that understanding correct?
In addition, I don't understand how you determine your ballscrew accuracy requirements. Is accuracy only critical in open-loop systems, since encoder feedback would monitor true travel distance and "self correct"? What are the circumstances in which a high accuracy ballscrew is necessary?
Finally, when the accuracy spec is called out as 5u/300mm, can the pitch vary within that 5u on each turn of the screw? For example, can the first turn be 4.995 mm/rev, the second turn be 5.005mm/rev, etc...?
I understand the repeatability is how much the linear distance traveled can change when you try to return to a position you've already been to. In addition, I believe that I understand that the accuracy of the ballscrew refers to how much the pitch of the screw varies from the nominal value, due to the screw manufacturing procedure. For example, if the screw is a 5mm pitch, the accuracy spec allows you to receive a ballscrew that actually moves 4.999mm/rev, or 5.001mm/rev. Is that understanding correct?
In addition, I don't understand how you determine your ballscrew accuracy requirements. Is accuracy only critical in open-loop systems, since encoder feedback would monitor true travel distance and "self correct"? What are the circumstances in which a high accuracy ballscrew is necessary?
Finally, when the accuracy spec is called out as 5u/300mm, can the pitch vary within that 5u on each turn of the screw? For example, can the first turn be 4.995 mm/rev, the second turn be 5.005mm/rev, etc...?
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RE: Ballscrew Accuracy vs. Repeatbility
5u/300mm is a runout spec, meaning that a full stroke travel of 300mm could be ±5um off at the end of the travel.
You should also be concerned about backlash, particularly if your repeatability requirement is stringent.
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RE: Ballscrew Accuracy vs. Repeatbility
RE: Ballscrew Accuracy vs. Repeatbility
I guess what I'm not understanding is why the accuracy matters if it remains constant. Can't the degree to which it is off be measured, and then have the software account for it? I.E. program a move of 5mm when in reality only 4mm is needed, since we know the ballscrew allways overtravels?
The source of our accuracy requirement is somewhat inventing numbers, so I'm just trying to educate my self on making a realistic determination.
@Brian
Yes true, didn't think of that.
RE: Ballscrew Accuracy vs. Repeatbility
Backlash, for example, is bi-directional, and some people have to always arrive from one direction only, to mitigate backlash.
As to your requirement, you cannot derive the requirement from the candidate solution. A ball screw system can be coarse and inaccurate, because it only uses a micro-stepped stepping motor, or it can be highly accurate, because it uses an interferometer, or full-travel linear encoder, to measure absolute position. You can infer reasonable accuracy requirements from the application, but you cannot infer requirements for an application from what a ballscrew can, or can't, do.
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RE: Ballscrew Accuracy vs. Repeatbility
RE: Ballscrew Accuracy vs. Repeatbility
RE: Ballscrew Accuracy vs. Repeatbility
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RE: Ballscrew Accuracy vs. Repeatbility
1. Squareness of the axis to one another.
2. Tempearture of the slides/part/components.
3. Spindle runout.
4. Spindle rigidity.
5. Slide yaw and pitch as it moves.
6. Induced vibration.
On a lathe you are normally trying to maintain a radius being machined.
The same conditions apply but now throw in turning tool radius tolerance, dynamic axis flex/movement between the cutting tool/slide and the spindle.
Think about machining a radiused laser mirror to .0001" radius accuracy.
Stepper motors increments are usually .0001". You cannot hold the accuracy.
Think about using a machine tool in a temperature controlled room. Lubrication oil temperature controlled. Coolant temperature controlled.
Vibration isolation. Air spindle for rigidity and accuracy. Stepper motors with .00005 or less step capabilities. Controlled slip/stick motion control. No people allowed because of vibrations from talking and heat from the body. Tool radius control of 10-20 millionths.
These machhines currently exist but you better have a large budget. Could be military.
Bill