Ball Screws vs. Sliding Screws:
Ball screws offer advantages in efficiency, precision, speed, and lifespan, but they are more expensive. Sliding screws have a simpler structure, lower cost, and self-locking (trapezoidal thread). They are suitable for low-precision, light-load, low-speed applications requiring self-locking, or cost-sensitive applications.
Ball Screws vs. Planetary Roller Screws:
Planetary roller screws use rollers (line contact) instead of balls (point contact), offering higher load capacity, rigidity, and longer lifespan. They also have better shock resistance, but they are more expensive, more complex, and have slightly lower efficiency (still significantly higher than a sliding screw). They are suitable for applications with extremely heavy loads, high shock, or extremely demanding lifespan requirements (such as large presses, injection molding machine clamping, and aircraft actuators).
Conclusion：
As an efficient, precise, and reliable linear motion element, ball screws are a core component of modern high-end equipment manufacturing. A thorough understanding of their structure, principles, performance parameters, and selection criteria, as well as adherence to proper installation, lubrication, and maintenance procedures, are key to fully leveraging their performance advantages and ensuring long-term, stable operation of equipment. As technology advances, ball screws with higher precision, higher speeds, longer lifespans, and greater intelligence will continue to drive industrial automation and precision manufacturing forward.