Greater flexibility for ball screws
Ball screws are key precision components in mechanical and plant engineering. However, their performance depends not only on the lead screw and nut, but also on the ball return system. This ensures that the balls are reliably returned to the end of the nut and remain in a closed loop at all times. Only in this way can low-wear operation, smooth running and precise movements be guaranteed.
To meet the growing market demands even more effectively, we have developed our new, flexible concept for deflection pieces in ball screw nuts. The aim was to combine technical adaptability, cost-effective production and short lead times.
Why the deflection system is so crucial.
The deflection system handles the return of the balls inside or outside the nut:
- Internal deflection: The balls run inside the nut housing.
- External deflection: The return is via an external guide.
Requirements vary significantly depending on the application. Limited installation space, minimum wall thicknesses, high loads, maximum force transmission or special material specifications – such as those for the food industry – require tailor-made solutions. At the same time, quotations, production costs and delivery times must remain competitive.
Deflection piece from the inside (Photo: Joshua Rzepka for Kammerer)
One concept, many possibilities
The new concept enables a particularly flexible design of different deflection types:
- Single deflection: Compact and simple to design
- Axial full deflection: space-saving and smooth-running
- Radial full deflection: robust, but with a higher space requirement
- External deflection: ideal for special design requirements
Single deflection from the outside
Each variant offers specific advantages. While full deflections work particularly precisely and quietly under high loads, single deflections impress with their compact design. Axial systems enable slim designs with high smooth running, while radial versions offer a particularly robust solution.
This modular approach allows ball screws to be adapted even more precisely to customer requirements.
Modern manufacturing for cost-effective solutions
In parallel with the design advancements, the production process has also been rethought. The deflection pieces are now produced on a modern machine that enables an automatable machining process. A versatile tool inventory, almost complete freedom of material choice and a lean tool provision ensure high efficiency.
The material is fed in automatically and discharged with impact and corrosion protection. Quality assurance is carried out using an optical measuring process with camera-based height measurement and short inspection times. In addition, a tactile measuring system is integrated that automatically controls components directly in the manufacturing process.
This combination of automation and integrated quality assurance ensures consistently high precision while simultaneously reducing manufacturing costs.
Technical and customer-specific flexibility
In addition to the technical design, commercial flexibility also plays an important role. With the help of a specially developed calculation programme, deflections can be quickly and precisely configured on the basis of customer specifications, application parameters and drawings.
This creates a seamless process from enquiry to production with the aim of offering technically optimised solutions at economically attractive prices.
Deflection piece from the outside
Conclusion
With the new deflection concept, Kammerer significantly expands the possibilities for designing ball screws. The combination of modular construction, modern production and integrated quality assurance creates high flexibility while simultaneously reducing costs.
The result are application-specific deflection systems that combine precision, cost-effectiveness and competitiveness and thus represent a further step towards future-oriented thread technology.
