An efficiency calculation model for ball screws by accounting for lead errors

Transmission efficiency is a pivotal indicator, providing a comprehensive view of the overall performance of a ball screw. While extensive research has predominantly focused on computing transmission efficiency across various operating conditions, the factors influencing the variability have often been overlooked. This study introduces an innovative method for computing transmission efficiency, which considers lead error, drawing on deformation coordination theory and load distribution. Multiple ball screws of varying precision grades underwent rigorous testing to quantify lead errors. Subsequently, each screw was matched with an identical set of nuts to measure the respective transmission efficiencies. Experimental results reveal a linear correlation between lead error and transmission efficiency when both lead error and uneven ball load distribution in ball screws are considered. The relative error between the calculated transmission efficiency results and experimental values for ball screws of different precision grades falls within the range of 0 % to 7.42 %, confirming the validity of the proposed model in this paper.