Research on the precision loss of ball screw with short-time overload impact

Ball screw is the driving functional component most frequently used for the precision equipment. To a certain extent, the transmission accuracy of precision equipment is affected by the position error of ball screw caused by the elastic–plastic deformation between ball and raceway under the overload impact. This article aims to investigate the precision loss of ball screw considering short-time overload impact. A novel precision loss model combining the Hertzian and Thornton contact theories is established to describe the variations in the axial deformation depths. Thus, the axial precision loss can be defined as the differential value between the initial no-loading travel variations and the loading stroke variations caused by the axial plastic deformation of raceway. Meanwhile, the maximum stress and the residual plastic deformation for four couples of ball-raceway materials are analyzed. Furthermore, the relationship between the precision loss and the elastic–plastic deformation is studied by the theoretical analysis and experiments. The results show that the position and precision is affected indeed by the contact deformation. The position and precision loss of the nut relative to the screw increases with the increase in the axial load. The results can help to provide the prediction for the precision life of ball screw operating in high-load condition.