Ball screw vs Lead Screw

Ball Screws and Lead Screws are commonly compared to each other due to the fact that they are both examples of mechanical linear actuators. Also, they can perform similar functions. However a range of essential variations exist between these two mechanisms, which makes one more suited to certain tasks than the other.

The biggest distinction between a ball screw and a lead screw is that ball screws contain a cyclical system of ball screws. This causes ball screws to be more complex, but there are a number of pros as well. For example lead screws have a significantly lower efficiency level than ball screw assemblies. The levels of efficiency can be calculated through examining the lead angle, but ball screw assemblies can often be more than 90% efficient. As a result of this exceptional efficiency level, in conjunction with other aspects such as low friction, the driving torque of a ball screw can be just one third the driving torque experienced by a standard model lead screw.

A high number of ball screws can also be back driven, which is also due to the very low frictional effects. Because the components of the ball screw assembly can move freely, generally it is very easy to alter the ball screw’s operational direction, and utilise it to change straight line movements into rotational energy. Ball screws perform optimally in situations that need high levels of efficiency and also good precision, along with smooth frictionless movement.

Lead screws are commonly utilised in mechanisms where they can work on changing the rotary motion into linear at a slow and steady rate. These tools cannot operate at the same high speeds as ball screws, as they generate more friction. As well as that they have lower levels of precision, but can function with heavier loads. It can therefore be said that lead screws are useful in situations where the mechanism operates at a low speed, and high level s of precision are not required.