Product category:
Drives, motors and power transmission, couplings, clutches
News Release from: Danaher Motion | Subject: SL system self lubricating ball screws
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 21 March 2003
Self lubricating ball screws break
20,000h barrier
A self lubricating ball screw has been successfully tested for over 20000 hours continuous operation.
Danaher Motion, manufacturers of Thomson linear motion products, claim to have designed a new form of self lubricating ball screw which has been successfully tested for over 20000 hours continuous operation Traditionally ball screws have been lubricated by using grease or oil which is replenished on a regular basis
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 14 Mar 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Linear guides combine precision and longevity
Miniature linear guides that offer high accuracy and longevity in order to enhance production efficiency provide extremely smooth, 'whisper quiet', single rail operation.
Microsteeping drives replace clutch and brake
High performance microstepping drives feature start and stop inputs making them an ideal low maintenance alternative to conventional clutch/brake solutions.
Thomson's new "SL system" acts in a fundamentally different and more efficient way.
The bearing track is directly lubricated by transferring a thin film of oil from a patented solid oil-filled polymer matrix.
The liquid lubricant suspended in the fully enclosed polymer matrix "bleeds" lubricant onto the bearing track through a network of capillaries.
This polymer "sponge" is a highly efficient method of lubricating the bearing track over an extended period and represents a significant technical breakthrough for Thomson.
Most grease used in ball screw lubrication contains approximately 35% oil suspended in a thickening agent.
The Thomson "SL system" is contained within the entire ball nut housing and contains 70% of oil in the much larger reservoir.
Conventional ball screw lubrication systems require oil replenishment every 800 / 1000 hours.
Due to the larger oil capacity and the unique design of the Thomson "SL system" this period can be extended ten-fold.
Temperature and transfer speeds during operation are unaffected when using the "SL system" and are therefore comparable to conventionally lubricated ball screws.
Maximum operating temperatures are -10 to +100øC with a maximum speed of 120,000Dn.
Benefits to the customer are not only the reduction in environmental pollution (both noise and particulates) as virtually no lubricant is lost, but also reduced maintenance and extended product life.
Protection against contaminates can be further enhanced by using Thomson's felt scraper seal.
Replacement of the "SL system" after 20000 hours of operation is a simple operation.
Downtime is kept to a minimum ensuring that the product makes to positive contribution to reducing manufacturing costs and increases productivity - two principals which are enduring aims of the Thomson product design team.
• Danaher Motion: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Manufacturingtalk email newsletter
• Manufacturingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
