Ball Screw Axial Clearance Measurement Under Misalignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for measuring axial clearance in ball screw devices are prone to measurement errors due to posture deviations like eccentricity and inclination, requiring precise alignment and significant time and labor, making them unsuitable for mass production and automation.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that apply a load in opposite directions along the axial direction while allowing relative displacement of the nut and screw shaft, using posture correction units with degrees of freedom for translation and rotation to correct eccentricity and inclination, enabling accurate measurement without precise initial alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If precise alignment of nut and screw shaft center axes is performed to eliminate posture deviation, then measurement accuracy is improved, but time consumption and labor requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
A posture correction unit is introduced as an intermediary device between the measurement apparatus and the ball screw device. This unit includes adjustment mechanisms that can correct the relative posture between the nut and screw shaft, compensating for alignment errors without requiring precise initial positioning by the operator.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement system incorporates self-correction capabilities through the posture correction unit, which automatically adjusts for misalignment during the measurement process. This allows the system to compensate for positioning errors without requiring skilled manual alignment, enabling unskilled workers to achieve accurate measurements.
2Measurement precision
If precise alignment of nut and screw shaft center axes is performed to eliminate posture deviation, then measurement accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The posture correction unit serves as a mediator that handles the complex alignment adjustments, freeing the operator from the burden of precise manual positioning. The unit includes adjustment mechanisms that can be operated without specialized skills, significantly improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement system incorporates dynamic adjustment capabilities through the posture correction unit, which can adapt to different ball screw devices and compensate for varying degrees of misalignment. This dynamic adjustment feature makes the system easy to operate across different workpieces.
3Measurement precision
If precise alignment of nut and screw shaft center axes is performed to eliminate posture deviation, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The posture correction unit is designed as a modular intermediary component that integrates alignment correction functions into the measurement apparatus. By concentrating the alignment correction functionality in a dedicated unit with standardized adjustment mechanisms, the overall system complexity is managed while achieving high measurement accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus of measuring axial clearance of a ball screw device is capable of measuring axial clearance with high accuracy by easily attaching a ball screw device to be measured without requiring special attention. This apparatus includes a support unit that supports a nut as one member of the nut and a screw shaft threadedly engaged with each other, a measuring unit that measures a displacement amount of the screw shaft as the other member in an axial direction, a load applying unit that applies a load to the screw shaft in directions opposite to each other along the axial direction, and a posture correction unit that is provided between the screw shaft and the load applying unit to hold the nut and the screw shaft to be relatively displaceable.