Ballscrew tolerances and real world performance
Moderator: Harold_V
Ballscrew tolerances and real world performance
So I am educating myself on ballscrews for my 8x14 conversion and am noticing that all the "affordable" ball screws are P7 or C7 tolerance, which means .002 over 12". I don't really care if the Z axis on the lathe is off by .004 at the worst possible case, but I have my concerns about the cross slide Y axis.
In the real world, is this really an issue? Obviously the Y axis moves far less than 12" on my lathe, so I can expect much better than .002? I understand repeatability between parts are not the issue, just hitting tight tolerances when needed? Also, am I correct in thinking that a 5mm pitch screw is the one to get? Also, I am finding most of these cheap ones only come with one ball nut, two is desired for zero backlash, correct?
In the real world, is this really an issue? Obviously the Y axis moves far less than 12" on my lathe, so I can expect much better than .002? I understand repeatability between parts are not the issue, just hitting tight tolerances when needed? Also, am I correct in thinking that a 5mm pitch screw is the one to get? Also, I am finding most of these cheap ones only come with one ball nut, two is desired for zero backlash, correct?
- Bill Shields
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Re: Ballscrew tolerances and real world performance
Yes it is an issue, but only if you are working to tight tolerances - depends on what you definition of tight tolerances is.
This is the difference between machines and rely on 'screw position' to locate the tool as opposed to machines with auxiliary (glass or whatever) scales to feed-back to the control and say 'this is where the tool ACTUALLY is located'.
Bigger issue with 'conversions' is overall rigidity and 'is the tool ACTUALLY' where the screw / encoder say it is.
ball screws and backlash are a function of how things are designed. some ball screws / nuts are designed to be a 'tight' (interference) fit so that there is no backlash with one nut, others do require two (as you have surmised).
Note: most lathes work on XZ coordinates, with Y reserved for off-axis milling.
This is the difference between machines and rely on 'screw position' to locate the tool as opposed to machines with auxiliary (glass or whatever) scales to feed-back to the control and say 'this is where the tool ACTUALLY is located'.
Bigger issue with 'conversions' is overall rigidity and 'is the tool ACTUALLY' where the screw / encoder say it is.
ball screws and backlash are a function of how things are designed. some ball screws / nuts are designed to be a 'tight' (interference) fit so that there is no backlash with one nut, others do require two (as you have surmised).
Note: most lathes work on XZ coordinates, with Y reserved for off-axis milling.
Too many things going on to bother listing them.
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Re: Ballscrew tolerances and real world performance
Backlash inside a control loop can be a headache, though. It can be dealt with but you can't just ignore it.
Re: Ballscrew tolerances and real world performance
When I get home, will have to see if my slim line glass encoder could even remotely fit the cross slide on my 8x14 lathe, I doubt it. It would be the closed loop stepper or servo driver that would read the quadrature glass scale input, correct?
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Re: Ballscrew tolerances and real world performance
On an 8x14" lathe, the C7 ballscrews with close loop steppers would give you good for performance for that caliber machine.
Adding glass scales add complexity. I assume your 8x14 is just an import lathe?
Like Bill said, rigidity comes into play.....
"Jack of all Trades, Master of None"
- Bill Shields
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Re: Ballscrew tolerances and real world performance
glass scales are a problem on lathes that small. many companies sell other than 'glass scales' that are much thinner...the big problem, even if you CAN get the glass scale on the lathe is loss of tailstock positioning toward the chuck when working with very small parts.
I would be surprised if you can get a ball screw under the slide of a lathe that small (that was not initially designed to support a ball screw).
everyone thinks that you can take a 'hand wheel' lathe and stick a control on it and get good positioning...
please look before you leap....
I would be surprised if you can get a ball screw under the slide of a lathe that small (that was not initially designed to support a ball screw).
everyone thinks that you can take a 'hand wheel' lathe and stick a control on it and get good positioning...
please look before you leap....
Too many things going on to bother listing them.
Re: Ballscrew tolerances and real world performance
I discovered that the “ACORN” and LinuxCNC allow you to map a ball screw to remove the inaccuracies. So I could temporarily mount a glass scale to my axis’s to map each one to form a table to make those lesser grade ballscrews perform as if they were ground to a high tolerance. Only true concern now is just having zero backlash using dual ball nuts
Last edited by WJH on Thu Mar 08, 2018 1:33 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Ballscrew tolerances and real world performance
This is the constant struggle in my life. While on the road, I dream big, and have to reground myself when I get home and am actually able to measure things... I’ve been thinking of plans B, C, and D just in case... I WILL be able to get a ball screw in there, even if unconventional.Bill Shields wrote: ↑Wed Mar 07, 2018 8:00 pm glass scales are a problem on lathes that small. many companies sell other than 'glass scales' that are much thinner...the big problem, even if you CAN get the glass scale on the lathe is loss of tailstock positioning toward the chuck when working with very small parts.
I would be surprised if you can get a ball screw under the slide of a lathe that small (that was not initially designed to support a ball screw).
everyone thinks that you can take a 'hand wheel' lathe and stick a control on it and get good positioning...
please look before you leap....
- DICKEYBIRD
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Re: Ballscrew tolerances and real world performance
So very true 'dat! I'm not on the road anymore for work but still spend 9-10 hours a day away from my shop workin' for the man. It's always exciting to make plans during the day for what will be accomplished in the shop that evening. On the long drive home the "mental adrenaline" slowly leaks out like the air from a leaking tire & by the time I eat supper, spend some time with SWMBO & get out to the shop, it's all I can do to just straighten up the shop a little bit or just remember where I was last time.
Milton in Tennessee
"Accuracy is the sum total of your compensating mistakes."
"Accuracy is the sum total of your compensating mistakes."
Re: Ballscrew tolerances and real world performance
I thought I was the only one with that problem!just remember where I was last time
Dave C.
I learn something new every day! Problem is I forget two.
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Re: Ballscrew tolerances and real world performance
There are kits made for the small benchtop lathes.WJH wrote: ↑Thu Mar 08, 2018 1:26 amThis is the constant struggle in my life. While on the road, I dream big, and have to reground myself when I get home and am actually able to measure things... I’ve been thinking of plans B, C, and D just in case... I WILL be able to get a ball screw in there, even if unconventional.Bill Shields wrote: ↑Wed Mar 07, 2018 8:00 pm glass scales are a problem on lathes that small. many companies sell other than 'glass scales' that are much thinner...the big problem, even if you CAN get the glass scale on the lathe is loss of tailstock positioning toward the chuck when working with very small parts.
I would be surprised if you can get a ball screw under the slide of a lathe that small (that was not initially designed to support a ball screw).
everyone thinks that you can take a 'hand wheel' lathe and stick a control on it and get good positioning...
please look before you leap....
Again, don't overstress about accuracy of the screw. Your little lathe will be fine with C7. Just get it together and learn....have fun.
"Jack of all Trades, Master of None"
Re: Ballscrew tolerances and real world performance
Hah, I wake up in the morning, walk out of my hotel room, and ask myself, “Where am I?” So many hotels, and time zone changes, takes me a bit to get my situation awareness going. My brain often thinks I was in the previous hotel initially.