Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Ball screws

You can engineer most of the play out of a standard leadscrew however, it will wear faster. The main disadvantages, as I understand it is A) accuracy and B) the reduction in force transmitted. As in with a ball screw there is much less drag. This will effect your rapid speed.

That said, plenty of people have made perfectly functional CNC machines with ACME screws.

Depending on your requirements, you can probably, if you are patient, find a suitable ballscrew on eBay for a reasonable sum.

Lastly, I don't know if you could get the necessary surface finish for a homemade ballscrew and if you did, you'd still have to manufacture the nut, which I think would be... Interesting.

--CS

>
> Hi,
> I am a newbie to the world of CNCs so i apologise for any
>impertinent questions and mistakes.
>
> I read online that a ball screw is a must if you want to build a CNC
>machine.The reasons being that the backlash or 'Play' that is always
>present in other screws is not tolerated.I also read that requirements
>are a little bit flexible for homemade CNC lathes.
>
> My first question is,How are ball screws made?
> I have not been able to to find much about their manufacturing process
>despite using a variety of methods.By profession I have a small workshop
>where I have a thread whirling attachment (Locally made,not sandvik) and
>can resonably grind a tool well enough to make threads of any profile.So
>please guide me about their making process
>
> My second question is,Can I bypass ball screws and use simple lead
>screw and nuts to retrofit a steel turning lathe into CNC?
> I am asking this question because i do not have the funds to make a
>small prototype CNC lathe and then implement to a larger lathe.And ball
>screws cost a bomb to acquire.So what are other options to having a ball
>screw for lathes.I am also assuming that funds are little bit tight
>always when you want to go on such projects.Please forgive me if I'm wrong.
>
> All ideas are welcome and any help will be gratefully appreciated.