Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Machining Ball Screws

I hope this dosn't end up 'off topic'. I hope it is, because (I believe)
machining ball screws is usually done for CNC retrofits; I don't think it's
usually done by the average non-cnc machinest.

Anyway, I still can't decide between trying to turn the screw, or doing the
below with one modification. What I've done before is make the 'cartridge'
about 0.1" too long, make the 5/8" hole close (but too small), then start
enlarging the 1st 0.1" in about 0.001" increments until the screw just
fits. When it just fits, take the extra 0.1" off, back off about 0.001"
(so the hole is about a mil too small), then heat it up before putting it
on the screw. I goofed it up once, couldn't get the cartrige off, but was
able to turn it 'away' without damaging the piece that the cartridge was
shrunk on.

Heck, I think I'll just buy the screw an inch or two too long and try both.
That way when someone asks again, I can tell them which worked better for me.

Thanks to everyone who responded. This ball screw is going to be used to
CNC my enco 9x20 lathe.

- Steven Ciciora

At 07:22 PM 6/4/03 -0000, you wrote:

>I decided not to machine the Ball Screws, instead I used
>the "Cartridge Method".
>I used a piece of 1.375" rod and bored an accurate 5/8" hole about 2"
>deep, for the Ball-Screw to just fit in and secured it with 2@ set
>screws. (Tight! Tight! Tight!)
>The other end of the rod, I turned down to fit the bearings with a
>thrust surface.
>Works great if you have sufficient clearance for the Cartridge.
>Just keep the boring and turning concentric for min. runout.
>
>Tom M.
>